Blanche Waterworth, 72, died on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 at her home in rural Newfolden, MN.

Funeral services will beat 10:30 AM Monday, November 18, 2002 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Newfolden, MN with Rev. John Jorgensen officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Newfolden, MN.

Visitation will be from 5:00 " 8:00 PM Sunday, November 17, 2002 at Johnson-Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls, MN with a 7:00 PM prayer service. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to services on Monday at the church.

Blanche Mortensen was born on September 27, 1930 at rural Argyle, MN the daughter of Carl and Elizabeth (Betts) Mortensen. She was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith and attended country school in northwestern Minnesota.

On October 19, 1948 she was united in marriage to Aaron Waterworth at Newfolden, MN. The couple made their home in West Valley Township, Marshall County near Newfolden, MN. The family occasionally migrated to the iron range where Aaron worked on the taconite plants and for Erie Mining Company, while always maintaining the family farm near Newfolden.

Blanche was an avid quilter and sewer, making quilts for her family and for World Relief through Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Newfolden. She enjoyed reading and making lefse, and every Sunday enjoyed her time with friends, Vernette Stokke, Sharon Gustafson, and Gloria Anderson. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Newfolden where she was a deacon and was active in WELCA. Blanche also worked as an election judge for West Valley Township.

Blanche is survived by one daughter, Mary Ann Waterworth of Minneapolis, MN; four sons: Mike (Deborah) Waterworth of Thief River Falls, MN, Gene (Alice) Waterworth of Fargo, ND, Joel (Lori) Waterworth of Thief River Falls, MN and Richard (special friend, Brenda Folden) Waterworth of Fargo, ND; nine grandchildren, Dawn Waterworth of Minneapolis, MN, Jennifer (Brad Kolling) Waterworth of Maple Grove, MN, Christofer (Fianc Danielle Barnett) Waterworth of Racine, WI, Kyle Waterworth of Fargo, ND, Keli Waterworth of Grand Forks, ND, Reed Waterworth of Thief River Falls, MN, Katie Waterworth of Thief River Falls, MN, Trace Waterworth of Fargo, ND, and Taylor Waterworth of Fargo, ND; one great granddaughter, Ashley Kolling; seven brothers and sisters, Myrtle Holmstrom of South St. Paul, MN, Andy (Shirley) Mortensen of Mora, MN, Dale (Carol) Mortensen of Heron, SD, Arthur Mortensen of Thief River Falls, MN, Gerald (Carol) Mortensen of Strandquist, MN, Orville (Jane) Mortensen of Montrose, MN, and Karen (Kenneth) Peterson of Ellsworth, WI.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Aaron in 1996; brothers, Allen, Melvin, and John Mortensen; and a brother-in-law, Leonard Holmstrom.