| Notes |
- DEATH: Death/burial from Welters Funeral Home, Huron SD. Buried
in the IOOF cemetery, Bloomfield IA, family plot next to her sister. A
wonderful woman that spent her life serving others and married late in life.
A professional librarian, a plaque in he honor is located at the Huron SD
library.
!DEATH: Personal knowledge and funeral notice in records of submitter.
Died 9 Oct 1993 at the Huron Nursing Home, Huron, Beadle, South Dakota.
Services held on 13 Oct, 1993 at the Walter Funeral Home, Huron, SD, with Rev. Phil Thomas, interment at IOOF Cemetery, Bloomfield, Davis, Iowa.
BIOGRAPHY: Blanche E. Johnson was born Blanche E. Battin, 6 May 1906, to Fred E. and Ora (Bassett) Battin, at Bloomfield, Davis, Iowa. In 1907 the famly moved to Pierre, South Dakota, and Blanche graduated from Pierre High School, then from Huron College, and later from University of Wisconsin Library School.
She became head librarian of Huron Public Library in 1932, serving until May 31, 1971. She was instrumental in organizing a federally funded area library service sponsored by the State Library Commission, and was involved with the building of the present Huron Public Library. She conceived and helped organize the Pioneer Association of Libraries and Huron Library Council.
During World War II she served as a Red Cross Nurse's Aide at Sprague Hospital.
A life member of the American Library Association, member of the South Dakota Library Association, and First Baptist Church. She traveled all over the world after her retirement and did family history research, being the "custodian" of valued family items. In 1985 she passed the role on to her 2nd cousin, Ronald Bassett, along with many photos and other items.
She married late in life to James W. Johnson in December 1979, who had two daughters and a son, Lucie Barth of Las Vegas, NV, and Nanci Oliva of Los Angels, Ca, and Benjamin Johnson of Puerto Rico, and several grandchildren. James died Nov. 15 1985.
BIOGRAPHY: 1930 US Census
Blanche E Battin Age: 23 Estimated birth year: 1907 Birthplace: Iowa Relation to Head-of-house: Dau. Race: White. Home in 1930: 145 Capital Ave, Pierre, Hughes, South Dakota. Single Parents' birthplace: IA. Image Source: Year: 1930; Census Place: Pierre, Hughes, South Dakota; Roll: T626_2224; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 13; Image: 0823.
BIRTH: !BIRTH: Information from indavidual (Blanche E. Battin) to Ronald Bassett.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1906 - 1993 (87 years)
[1]