Don Clark Blankenship died on Jan. 22, 2018 at his home in Hermiston at the age of 81.
He was born on Jan. 7, 1937 in Great Falls, Mont. the second oldest of eight children to Gilbert and Eileen Blankenship.
His family moved to Ritzville, Wash. when he was 6 years old and then made their final home in Salem when he was 7. He joined the U.S. Navy as a Seabee in 1955 and was honorably discharged in January 1959. He married Donna Ferguson on Aug. 1, 1958 in Stevenson, Wash. They made their home in Hermiston, where they raised four children.
Don worked road construction for many years and drove truck for Bill Kasari and Let’er Buck Motor Freight from 1966 through 1977. He started his own trucking business in 1978, first working for Kasari Trucking, then for Morrow County Grain Growers as a contractor. He sold his trucks in 1993 and went to work for Simplot until he retired in 1999. He then began working for Madison Farms in Echo and worked there part time until January 2017.
He loved telling stories about his Seabee days in the Navy, most memorably his time in Antarctica. He loved his annual hunting trips with his sons and his buddies. He also was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He coached Little League baseball when his boys were little. You could find him at the football, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball games cheering for the Bulldogs.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Donna; sisters, Jenifer (Doug) Desouza, San Diego, Calif. and Jane Borg, San Francisco, Calif.; sons, Craig (Janet) Blankenship, Overland Park, Kan. and Larry (Kristin) Blankenship, Portland; daughter, Darcy (Patrick) McDonough, Hermiston; grandchildren, Alison, Joseph, Stephanie, Andrew, Steven, Laci, Ryan, Devin, Kayla, Abbye, Andie and Aaron; 16 great grandchildren; and many friends that were like family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Sabra, Wilda, Linda and Julie; brother, Stewie; oldest daughter, Renee; great granddaughter, Delanee; and his faithful dogs, Baby and Jake.
At Don’s request, no formal services will be held, and a celebration of life will be held this summer.
Please sign the online condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
Sorry to hear about Don l. He was my friend for 76 years.
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