Obituary of Betty Jo Blanchard

Betty Jo Blanchard, passed away on July 20, 2017, at her home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. She was 92 years old. She was born in Kansas City, Kansas on January 6, 1925 to Harold Monroe McAlpine and Myrtle Evelyn Williamson. Betty Jo was a high school graduate of Wyandotte High School and was inducted as a member of the National Honor Society. She married her late husband (deceased January 10, 2006), William (Bill) Blanchard on December 2, 1945 in Kansas City, Kansas. Together they operated two successful restaurants in Kansas City, KS and Kansas City, MO. Bill always said that it was all of Betty's hard work at the Kansas City, MO restaurant that made it possible for them to move to LHC. In April of 1966, she fulfilled her life-long dream to live in the Southwest. A year earlier, Betty and Bill flew on the first of many McCulloch flights to Lake Havasu City and fell in love with the city. They were pioneers of the small city when it was only two years old and were strong supporters throughout their lives. Betty Jo worked for the McCulloch Corporation Chainsaw Factory in 1966-1967 for a short time while they established residency. This was required by the state at the time in order for Bill to acquire his real estate license and begin a long history of selling property for Holly Development Co. in support of the city they both loved. Bill ultimately became the exclusive real estate broker for the city's founder, Robert P. McCulloch. Betty Jo was a lover of all animals, especially dogs, most recently her West Highland Terrier, Angel,whom she adored. She enjoyed arts and crafts of all kinds. Her favorites were sewing, painting, sculpting, ceramics, sand-painting, knitting, quilting, and jewelry making. She often gave away her works of art and craft creations to friends and relatives. She was a charter member of Community Presbyterian Church since 1966 and Havasu Chapter No. 61, Order of Eastern Star, Worthy Matron, 1973. She was also a founding officer and served on the Board of Directors in 1991 to establish Telesis Center for Learning, Inc., a private non-profit private school, which later became Telesis Preparatory Academy, a public non-profit charter school for children K-12 providing quality education today for 430 of Lake Havasu's children. Preceeded in Betty Jo's death was her husband of 60 years, William E. Blanchard; parents, Myrtle Knisely and Harold McAlpine; and step-brother, Gordon Knisely. Survivers include her daughter, Sandra Breece; grandson, Ryan (Tammy) Breece and great-grandson, Austin Breece, all of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Betty dearly loved her small family and expressed it every day to daughter Sandy, grandson Ryan, granddaughter-in-law Tammy, and great grandson, age 2.5-year-old Austin. Her family and her country were of the utmost importance to Betty her entire life. A visitation will be held for Betty Jo on Friday, July 28, 2017 at Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home at 4:00-6:00pm. A Celebration of Life will commence on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 10:00am at Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home with burial at Lake Havasu Memorial Gardens immediately following. Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers and due to her long support as founding member of Telesis,donations may be made to non-profit Telesis Preparatory Academy. Thoughts and condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. Please feel free to send the family a free card at www.sendoutcards.com/lietzfraze.