EDINA, Minn. — Ruth Joan (Zanger-Blankenship) Martin died April 18, 2023, at Aurora on France, Edina, Minn., at the age of 86. She struggled with Alzheimer’s and a recently fractured hip. She died surrounded by her family.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m., April 29, at the Le Mars Bible Church, Le Mars, Iowa. Pastor Fred Gums will officiate.

Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery, Le Mars.

Visitation, with the family present, will be from 10 a.m. until service time and following the burial during a time of lunch and fellowship at the church.

A private family burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Wausa, will be followed by a celebration of life at Bill’s Place that Saturday evening.

Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home, Le Mars. Ruth Joan Zanger was born March 26, 1937, in Colorado Springs, Colo., the daughter of Catharine (Carman) Walt. She attended public school in Colorado Springs and continued her education at Colorado A&M in Fort Collins, Colo. She graduated in 1961, with a degree in home economics and textile design. Ruth married John A. Blankenship in 1957. Pam and Dan were born to Ruth and John while they were in college. Upon graduation, the young family moved to Fullerton, where John began his veterinary practice. In 1963, they moved to Wausa, and they welcomed a third child, Ned, to their family. Ruth and John lived and raised their family in Wausa for the next 32 years. While in Wausa, Ruth was actively involved in the United Methodist Church, Wausa Woman’s Club, the Ecology Shed, and 4-H as the Busy Bees club leader.

Ruth was an avid golfer and a longtime Husker fan. She became a Home Interiors displayer after the children started college. Ruth cared lovingly for John during his lung cancer illness until he passed away in 1995.

Ruth married Milton “Milt” Martin July 31, 1999, in Le Mars. In LeMars, Ruth continued her community involvement, attending the Bible Church, Bible study, and Christian Women’s Club.

She enjoyed bridge club and golf league with friends. Survivors include a daughter, Pam (Jules) Banks, Westfield, Iowa, and their children, Benjamin (Aleesha) Banks, and their children, Melody, Hazel and Leo; and Leah Banks, Vermillion, S.D.; a son, Dan (Neuma) Blankenship, Highlands Ranch, Colo., and their children, John and Aja; a son, Ned (Susan) Blankenship, Edina, Minn., and their children Macklan and Jacob; stepchildren, Jim (Kerry-Lee) Martin, Lisburn, North Ireland, and their children, Benjamin and Grace; Aaron (Katie) Lee, Des Moines, Iowa, and their children, Blake and Oliver; and Adam (Amanda) Lee, Portland, Ore., and their children Alexandra, Annabelle and Madeline; two stepdaughters-in-law, Angela (Doug Martin) (Neil) Wilson, Des Moines, Iowa, and their daughter, Michaela (Luke) Denlinger, and their children, Everest and Aven; Melinda (Tom Martin) (Dan) Stelling, Pierce; a sister, Alice Law, Rogers, Ark.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Catharine Walt; stepfather, Earl Walt; her husbands, John Blankenship and Milton Martin; step sons, Doug, Tom and Mike; and a sister-in-law, Lynn Blankenship.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials in Ruth’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association of Siouxland or the St. Joseph’s Indian School.