Lois Martin Blankenship

Heaven waited 104 years to gain its newest angel, Lois Martin Blankenship, on December 2, 2021. For those of us who have known and loved her, we are celebrating her transition knowing she is reuniting at long last with a multitude of loved ones welcoming her home. Our beloved mother, sister, grandmother/ Mimi, aunt, and friend is survived by her son, Robert Martin of CA.; her daughter, Judy K. Martin of RI.; three grandchildren: Dawn Martin, Jay Martin, and Hillary Olinger; 4 great grandchildren: Ailiya Greaves, Grayson Olinger, Maryn Olinger, and Ceanne’ Greaves; and throngs of former students, extended family, and friends whom she routinely adopted as her own. No stranger to loss or tragedy, she was preceded in death by Russell Martin, her beloved husband of 52 years; Cletus Blankenship, her second husband of 7 years; her cherished son, James R. Martin; and her precious granddaughter, Heather Greaves. Lois Ella Barton was born and raised in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, March 28, 1917. The third of four children, she entered this world just before the Great Depression almost guaranteeing that sheer survival would form the backdrop of at least two decades of her early life. Her father, Claude, (Scotty) having just fallen short of getting his law degree, ended up joining the masses of unemployed laborers across the country. He would take on odd jobs when or wherever he could, often subsidizing the family income by making bootlegged whiskey on the side. Lois’ mother, Ella, had been wheelchair-bound since early childhood, but she never let that stop her. She scooted around their small, two room cottage on a small stool outfitted with wheels. She often took in sewing and ironing to make ends meet. She managed the household affairs… cooking, canning, cleaning, and basically modeling the art form of overcoming any obstacles with the potential of preventing her from keeping her family housed and fed. Lois absolutely adored her mother and these powerful life lessons served to mold her into the unwavering optimist she would become. The family thrived on the harvest of their homegrown goods. They sought out whatever could be foraged from the Hills; i.e., dandelion roots, lambs quarters, and berries. They kept chickens, trapped rabbits, fished local streams, and hunted wild game… all of which Ella would manage to stretch out through a long and bitterly cold, South Dakota winter. The three girls were known to sometimes sing three-part harmony for their supper or Lois became the resident story teller spinning yarns to everyone’s delight. After a series of bouts with pneumonia, her doctor recommended she take dancing lessons to increase the health of her lungs. Although the cost of lessons appeared to be prohibitive, her daddy set about to make this a priority, never realizing that this decision would eventually play a major role in the trajectory of her life. After graduating from Rapid City High School in 1937, Lois met and married her sweetheart, Russ, (Razz, as she called him), and they set up housekeeping in her hometown. Over a period of nine years, they would welcome three children into the world while both pursued their individual livelihoods. Not your typical, 50’s housewife, Lois decided to start what would soon become a thriving business utilizing her outstanding skills as a dancer. At its peak, The Lois Martin School of Dance saw upwards of a 100+ children pass through its studio doors each week. She put on massive holiday and spring recitals every year, produced and directed a locally-originated television show, The Stars of Tomorrow, and she grew to be revered by hundreds of her former students through the over thirty years she served the community. She became somewhat of a local icon and was later featured in historical references as Rapid City’s Pioneer Dance Teacher, a title in which she took great pride. Russ and Lois eventually retired in Prescott, AZ, where she never stopped working with children or celebrating extended family and friends she treasured in the Prescott area. She also headed up the children’s department at the Trinity Presbyterian Church directing seasonal pageants depicting her deep faith through song and scripture. After both Russ and later, Clete, passed, she continued to fill her time by creating a staggering amount of children’s music, stories, poems, and Christian materials which she generously shared with the community at large. When Lois could no longer live on her own, her still adventuresome spirit prompted her to move cross country with her daughter, Judy, to spend her remaining years in Wakefield, RI. She was able to borrow just enough time to fall in love with the beauty of this state while her eyesight still permitted her to drink in its glorious foliage and sea view vistas. Although she would eventually lose her vision and most of her hearing, she never stopped exclaiming, “I believe I live in the Garden of Eden!” Perhaps her greatest joys in her latter days came from participating in the lives of her great grandchildren. It was heartwarming to watch the bonds they shared and the memories created that will resonate for the rest of their lives. Lois (Mimi) remained a force of nature to the very end facing each day with a smile on her face and a prayer in her heart. She was a rare soul whose bright light can never be completely extinguished! Although she has transcended into the arms of her precious Savior, her legacy of love lives on in the hearts of her family and friends throughout eternity. So Rest in Peace, our Beloved... We’ll be seeing you on the other side… Thy will be done… amen In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Charity of your choice. Thank you.