Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Blonquist Family

Annual Labor Day tradition with Nana 2004
Labor Day 2008
Thanksgiving 2009



Condolences

Every once in a while, by the sheer grace of God, a blessing is bestowed upon our life in a single moment, a blessing that will forever improve us in such a way that we can scarcely comprehend it until time has past and the blessing has unrolled and presented itself fully in all it's greatness. Some of our greatest blessings come to us totally unannounced, almost as if they slip in the back door when we are not watching. They settle in upon us so subtly we have no clue as to the tremendous worth and richness they will add to our lives. And we go about living one day after the next, never fully taking stock of what surrounds us, until one day, years down the road, when in a single moment that same blessing slips from us as subtly as it arrived and we are faced with the complete loss of what we really had. Suddenly we stop, stunned only to feel the pain in our hearts as our comprehension becomes crystal clear as to the worth of it all. It is a wise individual who values what is before him and cherishes it while it is with him. 
I speak of these things because that is how I came to know Eleanor. Suddenly, one day she was just there. She came into my life so subtly, unannounced, a blessed gift in the making. Little did I know she would become one of the greatest blessings I would ever come to grace my life. 
Lucky for me, it didn't take me long to realize what God had given me. In every way possible Eleanor always was and always will be, a guiding light in my life! Her wisdom knew no boundaries and extended out to every characteristic trait any human could possess. From kindness to tact, Eleanor had it all. She always knew what to say and when to say it. She was educated, honest, loyal, a defender of truth, a friend in the greatest sense of the word and above all else she had a spiritual heart as well as a giving heart. Eleanor was one of the purest examples of love I have ever met. In some of my roughest trials in life, Eleanor was always the first person I turned to for direction. And without fail, I always came away with exactly what a wounded confused soul needed. In those beginning years of our relationship, I lost a son and there were many times she spoke wisdom to my aching heart. If I had any problem, Eleanor always had wisdom and comfort for me. Her wise words were always a light in my life. 
There are so many things I could say about Eleanor. The list could extend into the eternities. I'll miss how she taught me to play cards, Hand and Foot, and never forget, a card laid is a card played ---you better not take your finger off it. She was a stickler for rules. In my life I will never lack for found memories of one of the most beautiful people I have ever met. Oh, how I love her. Her example of how to live life will always be with me. 
One thing I always said to her, "Eleanor, I hope I can grow up to be even half the woman you are! If I can just rise above myself that far, I will have really accomplished something." I meant it too. Anyone would have to strive long and hard to come anywhere close to this woman's sheer incredibleness! There is no doubt in my mind the mansion she has earned for herself in the life she now stands in. And she leaves a hole here no one can fill.
I love you Eleanor! And when I think of monumental blessings in my life that are rich beyond measure I will think of YOU! My comprehension of your worth in my life is crystal clear! May God bring me someday to where you are! May I live worthy of that. I know you are with Glade and with my Corbin..... and my mission now becomes a tough one, living worthy to be with those I love more than life itself. Hug them for me. Thanks for being a great lady, an example to all, excellence in its finest! Love you so much! (Faye Crowther)

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Condolences

Eleanor was a guiding light and comforting soul to those of us who knew her. I’m sure was that to everyone she met throughout her life.
— Howard Toburen

Our thoughts and prayers are with you today as you honor the life of your mother. We trust your emotional experiences today and in coming days as you mourn and adjust to your new lives will deepen the doctrinal understandings your mother has taught you all your lives.
— Vic and Donna Dietz

I have many great memories in the home of Eleanor and Blain Blonguist. I appreciate the time spent with this wonderful family of my youth.
— Rod Atack

A beautiful woman and a beautiful soul. We will miss your mother.
--Norma Bird

Condolences

Laurie, Jim and Noel,
I am so sad this morning that I can’t come to Eleanor’s funeral because I’ve been sick all night. My mother was going to come with me and she will be very sad as well.
I just want you all to know that she and Blaine changed my life forever in extremely significant ways. As a new clarinet student in 6th grade, your dad found out I was from Utah, asked me if I was LDS and when I said I didn’t know, he waited to talk to my mother and invited us all to church. The entire rest of my life since then has been blessed, including whom I married and what my children and grandchildren (and two new great-grandchildren) base their beliefs on.
That invitation led me to seminary where they were both incredible teachers who gave me a strong gospel foundation that has not only blessed me personally, but hundreds of children, youth, adults and investigators in three missions ( and another inner-city mission beginning next week) that I have taught over the years. My children and grandchildren have and are serving missions, teaching and raising strong families because of that foundation.
When I was in college, they saved me from breaking off my engagement with Mike by inviting me to live with them and go to school at Weber where we could spend more time together. What a choice experience that was. I loved every second of being in their home. They loved me just like a daughter and we had so much fun together. Never once did I feel like a burden on them, which I probably was. I even got to share my bedroom with little Nathan a couple of times.
When your parents and mine both moved to Utah and Mom and Eleanor became widows, they became best friends and Eleanor taught my mom how to write poetry, which she became really good at. Eleanor married Lauren and introduced Mom to Lauren’s best friend, Ben Farr and the two couples did a lot of double dating. Mom hadn’t been active in the church for several years, so Eleanor went to work on her and before long, Mom became active, got married in the temple to Ben, went on a mission togetther to Arizona and became temple workers when they got back home.
When Eleanor was the stake Relief Society president, she was assigned to do a big display at the Relief Society Building in Salt Lake. Unbeknownst to her, I was also the stake Relief Society president in Syracuse and was assigned to do a display in Salt Lake as well. I don’t remember how our paths crossed during that VERY stressful time, but when they did, she counseled with me several times on how to make the whole process easier and more meaningful. What a blessing she was to me – again.
When Blaine died, she wanted me to sing with the family at his funeral. I was so honored to think that she felt like I was part of the family. You all did and I am so grateful for that experience. I also sang a solo at his funeral, which was a great honor as well.
This all is just really a small glimpse of the many, many great experiences and blessings I have enjoyed because of your parents. My mind has just been flooded with memories, all of which are sweet.
I would have loved to see you all and heard all of the tributes given at her funeral and so would have my mother. I’m very sad that we can’t be there, but please know that we loved your mother, cherished our time with her, and look forward to seeing her beautiful high-cheek-boned face and hearing her throaty laugh in the next life.
Love,
Mike and Connee Garrett
Marietta (Mickey) Brown
— Connee Garrett