Nannie Blanche Draper

July 6, 1919 - Aug. 8, 2008

BENKELMAN -- Nannie Blanche Draper, 79, died Friday, Aug. 8, 2008, at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, Neb.

She was born July 6, 1919, in Davie County, N.C., the daughter of Samuel Wesley and Lola Elizabeth (Cook) Ellis. Blanche moved with her family from North Carolina to Nebraska in 1920, by train, and lived on a farm northwest of Benkelman with her family. She attended country school near her home.

On Oct. 4, 1946, Blanche was united in marriage to Raymond Donald Draper at Saint Francis, Kan. They settled on a small farm southwest of Benkelman. To this union seven children were born, three sons and four daughters.

Blanche spent most of her life on the farm, raising her children, doing farm chores, working in her flower garden, and doing her Ellis and Draper genealogy.

After Raymond's passing in 1991, Blanche stayed on the farm for two more years before moving into her home in Benkelman. After living two years in town, her health began to decline. She then retired to the Hester Memorial Home, where she enjoyed spending time with the other residents.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Samuel and Lola Ellis; her husband, Raymond Draper; three brothers; one sister; eight brothers-in-law; five sisters-in-law; three grandsons, Jason Draper, Joey Turner, and Kevin Brown; and one great-granddaughter, Cassandra Eckhoff.

Survivors include her children, Wesley Draper of Benkelman, Neb., Clyde Draper of Crawford, Neb., Frankie Draper of Benkelman, Neb., Elizabeth Semler and husband, Clifford, of St. Francis, Kan., Alma Draper of Benkelman, Neb., Barbara Brown and husband, Mark of St. Francis, Kan., and Donna Draper of Bird City, Kan.; 17 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters; one brother; two brothers-in-law; three-sisters-in-law; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008, at 10:30 a.m,. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Brian Fong officiating. Interment will follow services at the Benkelman cemetery, where Blanche will be laid to rest next to her husband.

Arrangements are under the direction of Forch Funeral Chapel of Benkelman.