Grace Elizabeth (Pethick) Blankenship

Grace Elizabeth (Pethick) Blankenship, 95, of Peoria, IL went to be with the Lord on Monday, August 21, 2023.

She was born on July 4, 1928, in Ortonville, MI, to Harry Ralph and Margaret Teresa (Johnson) Pethick. As a young girl her family moved from Ortonville, Michigan to Peoria, Illinois where she met the love of her life, David Tobias Blankenship. They were married on July 4, 1946, after he returned home from WWII.

Together they raised seven children, Sharon (Gary) Moushon of Speer, IL, David J. (Mabel) Blankenship of Bellevue, IL, Peggy (Jim) Maddox of Farmington, MO, Carol (Dennis) Harper of Lewistown, IL, Deborah (Patrick) Ruder of Groveland, IL, Connie Riley of Alvarado, TX, and Becky Hoffman of Creve Coeur, IL; fourteen grandchildren; thirty-one great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and brother, Ray (Deborah) Stokes of Germantown Hills, IL.

She was a homemaker most of her life and went to work at Interstate Brands (Butternut Bakery) later in life as a clerk in the Butternut thrift stores on Howett Street in Peoria, IL and in Sunnyland, IL. She retired and she and David lived in Germantown Hills, IL for most of their married life and retired there.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, David, of 75 years of marriage, her only son, David J. Blankenship, five of her six brothers, Harry, Charles, Richard, James Howard, and William Francis, and four sisters, Margaret Mary, Beatrice Cecelia, Joyce Martha, and Alice.

Private funeral services will be provided by Mason Funeral Home in Germantown Hills with a memorial service for family members only at a day and time to be decided. There will be no visitation held. Burial will be in Fondulac Township Cemetery in East Peoria, IL. Online condolences at www.masonfuneralhomes.com.

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