Obituary of Margaret Blanche Arthur

On November 9, 2018, Blanche passed away peacefully after a long and full life.  She was predeceased by her parents, Milla (Roulson) Maycock and Wellington Maycock; brother, James Maycock; husband, Gilmore Arthur; daughter, Kendra Peterson; and niece, Lori Mything. She is survived by her daughter, Juanita Arthur; son-in-law, Robert Whyte and grandson, Wesley Whyte; granddaughter, Jen (Peterson) Love; Jen’s husband, Sheldon Love; grandson, Tyler Peterson; sister, Irene Mything; Irene’s husband, Orvil Mything and their children, Leslie Mything; his wife Debbi Mything and their four children, Amber, Aryn, Ryan, and Erik; and Jamie Mything and her four children, Tanya, Ky, Dakota, and Jodie.

Blanche was born in Bracken, Saskatchewan and grew up during the Great Depression.  Throughout her life her great joys were music, teaching, and crafts. She began teaching at the age of 19 and for three years taught in remote communities in Saskatchewan one-room schoolhouses. She joined the Royal Canadian Airforce in 1953 and, because of her teaching experience, was assigned to teach radar technicians, known as “fighter cops”, to watch for Soviet airplane bomber attacks on North America in the 1950’s.  Blanche maintained several life-long friendships with her fighter cop colleagues.

In the RCAF, Blanche met her husband, Gil, and left the service to raise two daughters.  The family was stationed in Ontario and Germany, and then lived in several mall towns in Alberta after Gil became a clergyman. Blanche played piano and organ for the church services.  She taught in several schools over the course of her 36-year career, especially happily in Strathmore, before retiring in 1993.  Blanche loved music and taught music in school as well as offering individual piano lessons.  She especially loved singing and sang in the church and seasonal choirs.  She was a strong member of the Strathmore United Church community for many years and an avid supporter of the annual Thrift Sale and the church library.

After retiring from teaching Blanche intensified her quilting hobby. Having already made many quilts for her family she began making quilts for the Strathmore shelter, eventually donating hundreds.  Providing warm and comforting quilts for women in need made her very happy.

Blanche will be remembered for her generosity, kindness, hard work, integrity, and sense of humour.  She was well-loved and will be missed by many.

Funeral Services were held on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 1:00 pm from the Strathmore United Church. Interment to followed in the Strathmore Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Blanche’s memory may be made to the Wheatland Crisis Society, online at www.strathmoreshelter.com  or via mail P.O. Box 2162, Strathmore, Alberta T1P 1K2.