Donald Blanchard
September 21, 1926 ~ January 17, 2022
Don Blanchard, 95, Fargo, ND, passed away on Monday, January 17, 2022, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley at Bethany Retirement Living in south Fargo.
Don was born to John E. and Delores (Charboneau) Blanchard in Crookston, MN on September 21, 1926. He was the eldest of five boys. He grew up in Grand Forks, ND.
Don enlisted in the US Navy in 1944 and served in the south Pacific as a coxswain and master at arms. After his honorable discharge in May 1946 with a rank of Seaman First Class, Don lived in Fargo, ND where his family had moved in 1945. He graduated from Sacred Heart Academy (Shanley) in 1947. During his senior year at Shanley, his highlight was being head coach for the hockey team and coaching his brother, Richard (Dick). He attended North Dakota State University. Don married Margaret “Mugs” Narveson in 1950 and moved to Minot, ND where Don and Mugs raised their family.
Don’s career included working for The Great Northern Railroad (Fargo), Sweeney Brothers Tractor Company (Fargo), E. A. Tuftedahl Co. (Minot), Fisher Motors (Minot) and the US Postal Service (Minot, ND and Sioux Falls, SD). While working for the Post Office as carrier and regional vehicle maintenance manager, he received several commendations and an incentive award. He loved working for the US Postal Service.
Upon retirement, Don and Mugs moved to Lake Ida in Cormorant, MN in 1986. Don made Fargo, ND his last residence.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John E. and Delores (Charboneau) Blanchard; his wife Margaret (Mugs) Narveson Blanchard and infant son, William; three brothers, John, Richard, and Wayne Blanchard; and daughters Mary Carol Idso and Barbara Jean Cook.
He is survived by his brother: Jim (Robin) Blanchard, Seal Beach, CA; children: Ric (Mary Jo) Blanchard, Deephaven, MN; Tom Blanchard, Pelican Rapids, MN; grandchildren: Maggie Blanchard, Becky (Nathan) Blanchard Kennedy, Katie Blanchard, Stephanie Idso Kohnen, Sunny (Doug) Idso Custer, Rob Cook, and Courtney (Trevor) Cook McClymont; great grandchildren: Jared and Jonah Kohnen, Kinley, Callen and Kilian Kennedy, Bodee and Tiegen Custer, Joshua Cameron and Jeffrey Adair, Caysin, Tybalt and Rigby McClymont; and long time companion: Elaine Anderson, Fargo, ND.
A Mass for the Dead will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 10, 2022, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Lake Park, MN. There will be a luncheon after mass. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Holy Cross North Cemetery, Fargo, Friday afternoon, June 10.
Memorials may be made to St Mary’s Mission, P. O. Box189, 5272 St. Mary’s Mission Rd, Red Lake, MN 56671
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Don and Mugs were such good friends. I missed them so much when they moved.
God’s comfort to the families of our dear friends Mugs and Don upon their passing. They were close friends at the Post Office and St. Joseph’s for many decades.
Tom,Rick,and family sorry for your loss but do to family issues and transportation issues I soil not be able to attend funeral in person, my sisters car was full and everyone else couldn’t get me there or never returned my calls. Your family and dad will be in my prayers. God bless!