LaDene Blankenship

Blankenship, LaDene Iona, died in her home surrounded by her immediate family February 12, 2013 after a short but brutal bout with pancreatic cancer. She was born September 18, 1942 in the small rural town of Hardtner, Kansas, the daughter of Hillmon and Aline Cargill. Both proceeded her in death as did her only brother Colin. LaDene grew up on a ranch near Medicine Lodge, Kansas and started her schooling in a proverbial one room school. When the school closed, she transferred to the Medicine Lodge school system. After graduating from high school she enrolled at WSU which was the beginning of her lifelong residency in the Wichita area. She broke off her studies to enter the work force. It would not be until 1997 when she was able to resume classes and graduate from WSU. She was a secretary in Lear Jet marketing department during the very early days of the program where she would work with and eventually marry her future husband Stan. Later she obtained her brokers license to sell real estate and worked for the Anita Frey Real Estate Company. After the huge hail storm that hit Wichita in 1992, she joined Mid-States Insurance Adjusters where she became an adjuster. Then in 1998 Automated Aircraft Tooling, Inc. the family business was growing and needed someone to manage the administrative side. A role she relished and continued almost up until the time of her death. LaDene enjoyed an active life and traveled extensively with her husband including a 1981 trip to the still primitive China via a Learjet aircraft. In 2007 at the age of 65 they took up scuba diving and she accumulated nearly 150 dives in Eygpt, Fiji, Indonesia and many of the best dive sites in the Western Caribbean. But most of all she enjoyed decorating and gardening in the dream home they designed and built in the year 2000. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Stan, their son Jay, Wichita, her son Ky Chain his wife April Lucas, grandson Fabian Chain and granddaughter Ara all living in Austin, Texas. Two daughters- in-law Paula Andrews, Stoke-On-Trent, England, and Renee Warstler, Wichita. Also surviving, sister Dovie, brother-in-law Ray both of Isabel, Kansas and sister-in-law Ann of Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Funeral service is 1:00 pm Saturday, Feb. 16 at Resthaven Mortuary. Graveside service is 4:00 pm at Mumford Cemetery in Nashville, KS. A memorial has been established with the Kansas Humane Society, Wichita.