Blanche “Babe” Webster, a lifelong resident of Devils Lake ND passed away early Wednesday morning, November 9, 2011 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake at the age of 93.
Funeral Services for Babe will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Devils Lake. Pastor Kevin Kaufmann will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Honorary Bearers will be all of Babe’s grandchildren. Music will be provided by Lynne Webster and Audrey Myklebust.
Blanche, daughter of Peter and Sarah (Easthouse) Hagen was born on March 11, 1918 in Devils Lake where she was reared, educated, lived, worked and raised her family, making Devils Lake her home her entire life. Blanche attended school in Devils Lake and graduated from Central High School with the class of 1936. After high school, Babe worked as a switchboard operator for Bell Telephone.
Blanche was united in marriage to Earl Leet Webster on March 7, 1938 in Devils Lake. They established their home in Devils Lake until 1968 when they moved to rural Devils Lake. There they operated the family farm where Blanche grew a large garden, knitted, cooked for the family and kept her mind sharp by doing the daily crossword and word puzzles. Earl passed away on December 26, 1985. In 1993 Blanche moved back to Devils Lake and became a resident of the Good Samaritan Center two years ago.
Blanche loved time with family and the family loved going to her home for holidays, for a Sunday meal and for any special event where they enjoyed her excellent cooking. They all knew they were welcome any time day or night. Blanche knew at a very young age the importance of keeping family close; she lost her father in 1918 and her mother dedicated her life to raising and providing for her three children.
Blanche was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church and Ladies Aide, Eastern Star and the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.
Babe will be greatly missed by her family. Her children William J. (Irene), Bismarck; Meredith (Thomas) Owens, Grand Forks; Steven E. (Lynne), Devils Lake; and Bradford T. (Terry), Devils Lake; eleven grandchildren William Webster, Laurie (Richard) Wolfe, Sari (Mike) Murphy, Scott and Brad Torgerson, Janine (Thomas) Huffer, James (Jackie) Owens, Karen (Rick) Sinard, Benjamin, Matthew (Katie), and Adam Webster; twenty-three great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and their families.
Blanche was preceded in death by her parents; husband Earl; brother Joseph Hagen and sister Isabelle Svidal.