Blanche Marie Smith Clark

The world lost a beloved Mother, Blanche Marie Smith Clark, on August 17, 2021.  In her last few weeks of life, Blanche was surrounded by her children, Judy, Debbie & Randy. Each child was able to have quiet moments with their mom until she died peacefully of natural causes. 

Blanche Marie was born to Raymond and Mildred Stuhr on December 20, 1929.  There were three younger other rambunctious siblings in the Stuhr household, Jim, Karen and Cheryl. Their growing up years were in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Blanche’s high school years were at North High School. 

In 1945 Blanche met a wonderful young man named Robert Smith (Bob). In their teens, Bob and Blanche eloped to Wichita, Kansas. Blanche and Bob made a wonderful life during the 1950’s and the 1960’s for their three children in the suburbs of Crystal, MN.  

Blanche was forever into artistic endeavors, decorating her house, cooking, and crocheting.   One of the best things our mom did for her girls was to have them plan and prepare a weekday night supper.  Sometimes it was good and sometimes not so good. However, no one at the dinner table said a word if it was a disaster.  That same night the other daughter had to wash and dry the dishes as the family did not have a dishwasher. Now to her love of crocheting, anything that could be crocheted was crocheted.   Every night while watching television her hands were busy clicking away.  Everyone we know has something from mom which could have been a blanket, a hat, slippers, a toy animal etc.  And when she ran out of people for her creations, Blanche made small blankets and donated to the animal rescue shelter for new pet owners.   Blanche’s crowning achievement was to crochet period dresses on dolls.  There is a Scarlet O’Hara doll and a bride doll etc.  She submitted the dolls in the Crow Wing County Fair and won numerous 1st Place ribbons. 

There were years that were tough for the Smith family as Bob had kidney failure.  Judy donated one of her kidneys to her father and happily it gave Bob several additional years of life.  During that time, Blanche worked outside the house, continued to raise her children, and took care of her beloved husband until he died.  However, during those years Mom gathered the family together to enjoy the lake home in Crosby, MN. 

Blanche spent winters in Florida where she was lucky to meet William Clark (Chip) and they married on Valentine’s Day 1990 surrounded by her children and Chip’s children. It was a happy blended family.   Chip and Blanche traveled, enjoyed their Florida townhome in the winter and the summers at the lake house.  Sadly, Chip passed away in November of 2008.

Blanche had many joys and sorrows in her life and handled them each equally with the same wonderful grace she possessed.  If you asked Blanche what she cherished the most about her life, the answer would be that she loved being a Mother.    

She is survived by her children, Judy Hein (Gary), Debbie Crowther, Randy Smith (Elise).  Her step children Bill Clark (Pat), Kathy Myers and Judy Clark. Her brother Jim Stuhr, Karen Dahlstrom (deceased) Cheryl Stuhr.  Her four grandchildren, Bret Randolph (Leah) Tara Rentfro (Mike), Shannon Van House (John) and Sara Hale.  And let’s not forget, nine wonderful grandchildren.  

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 20, 2021 at the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.  Burial will be at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens in Crystal.  A visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Friday.….