Blanche Harle-Friedow

Blanche Harle-Friedow, 96, of Britt, passed away on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at the Westview Care Center in Britt.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 7, 2022, at 11:00 AM at the Evangelical Free Church, 810 2nd Avenue NW in Britt, with Pastor Steve Couch officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Britt.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 7, 2022, from 9:30 – 11:00 AM at the Evangelical Free Church, 810 2nd Avenue NW in Britt.

The funeral service will be live streamed on the Evangelical Free Church Facebook page.

Blanche Darlene, the daughter of Henry and Charsty (Munson) Anderson, was born February 19, 1926, on the family farm in Orthel Township near Britt, where she was raised.

Following high school, and prior to getting married, Blanche worked at the First State Bank in Britt. Later, she worked as librarian at the Kanawha Public Library for many years. In addition to raising her four children, she loved the farm and her farm life, she especially enjoyed walking beans.

Blanche was united in marriage to Herman Harle on April 2, 1950, at the Britt Evangelical Free Church. To this union, children Jill, Ned, Kurt and Kent were born. Herman passed away on January 12, 1983.

Blanche later married Verlyn Friedow on September 19, 1987. Verlyn passed away on June 28, 2018.

As a child, Blanche was a member of First Baptist Church in Britt, when she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She was a long-time member of the Evangelical Free Church in Britt, where she was a deaconess, volunteered as the church librarian, and was the head of the prayer chain for a number of years. Blanche was especially passionate about the Awana program at the church, she loved listening to the kids recite their Bible memorizations. She also enjoyed and was faithful about visiting shut-ins in Britt and Kanawha, while she was able.

Blanche loved attending her children’s and grandchildren’s school events and continued to attend high school sporting events long after her grandchildren had graduated. She and Verlyn enjoyed summer vacations at Okoboji for more than 30 years, a tradition that her children continue to this day. She also took trips to Lake Superior, Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore and to California to visit her daughter, Jill.

Blanche will be lovingly remembered for being a tireless prayer warrior for family and friends alike.

Blanche is survived by her children, Jill (Dale) Finch of Santa Clarita, California, Ned (Sherri) Harle of Kanawha, Kurt (Mary) Harle of Clear Lake, and Kent (Jill) Harle of Encinitas, California; Blanche’s grandchildren: Jill’s children, Joy Finch of Oxnard, California, Dane (Elina) Finch of West Los Angeles, California and Drew Finch of Oxnard, California; Ned’s children, Jason (Denise) Harle and their children Kirk, Adrienne and Eve of Tallahassee, Florida and Kristin Harle of Franklin, Tennessee; Kurt’s children, Caitlin (Landon) Mathis of St. Paul, Minnesota and Jake (Michaela) Harle of Tiffin, Iowa; Kent’s children, Jack Harle of Carlsbad, California, Mick Harle of San Luis Obispo, California, Peyton Harle of Encinitas, California and Karlie Amicay, of Encinitas, California; her sister Marlys Bergstrom of Bloomington, Minnesota; her stepchildren: Melissa Cook, Mitchel (Geneva) Friedow and Maureen (Dan) Abels; along with numerous nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.

Blanche was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Herman Harle and Verlyn Friedow; her siblings Mildred Anderson, Florence Steiff Carlson, Charlotte Hunsley, Donald Anderson, Hazel Larson and Norman Anderson; and stepchildren Martha Brass and Mark Friedow.

Blanche's family suggests memorial donations may be left in her memory to the Britt Evangelical Free Church Awana Program.