Blanche Molony

blanche molony
Blanche R. Molony passed away peacefully from natural causes on August 4, 2015 at Bethany on University, Fargo, ND.  She was surrounded and cared for by many family and friends.  She was 99 years old. The second of two daughters, Blanche was born on October 21, 1915, to Eman and Anna (Smetak) Novotny in Valparaiso, Nebraska.  Excellent farm land brought the family to Oakes, ND, and Blanche spent her formative years on the family farm. Learning was a passion of Blanche's that began early in her life.  Although it was during the heart of the Great Depression, Eman and Anna sent Blanche to Valley City, ND to provide a high school education for their daughter.  Blanche later obtained her teaching certificate in Valley City and studied violin performance at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, MN.  At the age of 50, she went back to school and obtained her Bachelor's degree from Moorhead State University.  Blanche shared her passion for learning with the many students she taught.  Her influence as a teacher in music and elementary school spread throughout many cities: Hurdsfield, Tower City, and West Fargo, ND; Oklee, Clontarf, Donnelly, and Chokio, MN. In 1941, while teaching in Oklee, Blanche was selling tickets to a high school basketball game when she met the handsome Coca-Cola delivery man, James "Leo" Molony.  On November 20, 1941, the two married in Stirum, ND.  Three weeks later, Pearl Harbor was bombed.  Leo entered the Army, and the pair moved to San Francisco, CA, where Blanche worked at the Federal Reserve Bank in the Bond Redemption Department.  After Leo was honorably discharged, Blanche and Leo moved to Leo’s home town, Clontarf, MN, followed by Devils Lake, ND, and many years in Morris, MN. Blanche and Leo moved to Fargo in 1962 and soon became well-known members of Fargo's business community. Blanche was a strong support to her husband as he built the Stop-N-Go convenience stores, which he managed and operated until 1985. Following that, the Molonys opened and operated the Food-N-Fuel franchise in the greater Fargo-Moorhead region. Blanche and Leo were truly devoted to each other, their family, and their Catholic Faith.  They were long time members of Nativity parish. Avid travelers, Blanche and Leo visited many states in the United States and many countries in Europe, including Leo's family's homeland of Ireland and Blanche's of Czechoslovakia. Leo passed away in 1995. After Leo’s death, Blanche continued to travel to many places, a favorite of which was Alaska. She enjoyed several other hobbies, including gardening. She was a talented "green thumb" and could grow plants that many others couldn't. Blanche was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leo Molony, her parents, Eman and Anna Novotny, and her sister Anna (Edward) Kliment, Rochester, MN.  She is survived by her deeply grieving children: Janet Scott, St. Cloud, MN; Alice (Edward) Bird, Coon Rapids, MN; Michael (Connie), Fargo; grandchildren: Randy (Teresa) Salvati, Sandy (Edward) Martinez: Kevin Molony, Ryan (Alison) Molony, Steven (Courtney) Molony; Rebecca (Andrew) Wolf; great-grandchildren: Christopher Salvati; Appalonia Martinez; Elizabeth Wolf; great-great-grandchildren: Madison and Anthony Salvati. Please join us in celebrating Blanche’s life at Nativity Catholic Church, Fargo, ND, on Tuesday, August 11, with visitation beginning at 5:00 p.m. and vigil to follow at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Nativity Catholic Church, Fargo, ND, on Wednesday, August 12, at 10:30 a.m., with a visitation one hour prior. Luncheon will be served. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery. Memorials preferred to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception or to the Hospice of the Red River Valley.

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  1. Mrs. Molony was my 5th grade teacher in Chokio, MN, 1961-62. She was my favorite elementary teacher. At the end of the year I took a picture of her standing outside. I still have that photo and the memory of how sad I felt that she was moving away. My mom let me buy her a gift, a small bud vase, I believe.

    Mike Molony was in my freshman English class at Moorhead State. I didn’t realize he was her son until she came to the circulation desk with him where I worked in the college library my freshman year. I told her who I was but she did not remember me. Ironically she remembered my brother, Glen who was a couple of years older. She had never had him in class but he was frequently “in trouble” so he was quite well known.

    I am so glad that Mrs. Molony lived a long life. She passed away on my husband’s and my 42nd wedding anniversary.
    My sympathy to all the family!

  2. Our sympathy to your family at this time of sadness and loss. I will never forget the time we visited Blanche and Leo in my younger years!! They had carpet that left our slide marks in their living room. My mother almost had a heart attack. And I believe Mike got into a bit of trouble over that ordeal.

    I am very sorry my husband and I cannot attend the visitation or funeral, unfortunately, I have training for school next week. I hope to see you at a family reunion down the road someday.

    We pray that God’s healing touch will comfort, support, and strengthen your family now and in the days ahead.

    God Bless,

    Don & Betty (Kappenman) Krull – daughter of Margaret (Molony) and Tony Kappenman, Montrose.

  3. Our condolences to all family in the loss of your loved one. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you on Wednesday as we cannot be there in person. We pray that time will heal your loss and the wonderful memories will always remain with you. We were glad to have met Blanche at Mike and Connie’s camp at Breeze Campground and at their home during their moving process when she helped package the chandeliers in boxes. God Bless you all!

  4. She was a very gracious lovely lady.
    death leaves a heartache no one can heal.
    Love leaves a memory no one can steal”.

  5. Janet, Alice, and Mike and extended families: please accept my sincere sympathy on the loss of your mother. She was a wonderful, talented woman. She will be missed by many.

  6. Alice and family,

    Sorry for your loss, was good you could have her for all those years.

    Michael Dullea


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