Blanche Alice Harkison, 97, Minot and formerly of Fargo and Grafton, died on Monday, October 10, 2016 in a Minot assisted living center.

Blanche was born on July 8, 1919 on the family farm in Gasman Township of Ward County south of Minot to Halvor and Christina (Holmes) Haugeberg. She was reared on the farm, attended rural schools, graduated from Minot High School in 1937 and attended Dakota Business College in Fargo. As a young adult she was employed as a secretary at Dacotah Paper Company for three years.

Blanche married Robert Harkison on June 9, 1941 in Max. They made their home in Grafton and Fargo while Robert served in the military. Following his discharge they returned to Grafton where they resided from 1945 to 1960. The family moved to Fargo - Moorhead when Robert was transferred there by Wells Fargo Bank. He retired in 1980 and they continued to reside in Fargo and spent the winter months in Sun City West, AZ.

Robert died on September 20, 1993 and Blanche continued to reside in Arizona until she moved to Minot in May of 2001. Most recently, she had been a resident of Somerset Court Assisted Living Center for the past sixteen years.

Blanche was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church - Minot, Chapter Y of PEO in Fargo and was a former member and active volunteer at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City West. Also, she was an active volunteer at the Sun City West Hospital. She especially enjoyed reading, crewel, embroidery and knitting.

Blanche's loving family includes her children: Diane Harkison (Donald Haug) of San Bernardino CA, Linda Lake of Sacramento, CA and Robin Harkison Aguirre (Eugene W. "Bill" Aguirre) of San Leandro, CA; six grandchildren: Robert (Kerry) Sorum, Jeremy (Jennie) Sorum, Amy Sorum (Michael) McKevitt, John Lake, Laura Narum and Sam Narum; seven great grandchildren: Tanner, Katelyn, Zachary and Alexander Sorum, Gavin Lake, Phoebe and Juniper McKevitt and sister: Nora Pederson of Minot and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Blanche was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings: Hazel (Harold) Pettys, Clara (Henry) Neshem, Cap (Melba) Haugeberg and brother-in-law: Hjalmer Pederson.

Celebration of the Life of Blanche Harkison: November 1, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in Bethany Lutheran Church - Minot.
Interment will be in Sun City West, AZ.
Visitation: Monday, October 31, 2016 from 3:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Bethany Lutheran Church Foundation.