Lena Mae Doherty Blanchard

Lena Mae Doherty Blanchard, 95, has finished her work on earth and has gone to her reward in heaven with her Savior Jesus Christ. Lena passed away, September 11, 2014 in her home with her daughters at her side. Lena was born in Bozeman, May 22, 1919 to parents Hiram and Mamie Doherty. She lived all her life in Bozeman, graduating from Gallatin County High School in 1938. She worked for the WPA, and then became a bookkeeper for the Woolworths store for several years. She continued working, doing inventory and during seasonal sale times. Lena was preceded in death by her brothers: Bill, Milton and Russell and sisters Dora Jordan and Muriel Hedges, several nieces and nephews and her husband Jim Blanchard whom she married on August 17, 1946. They shared 51 years together. She is survived by her daughters Janelle (Jack) Ryen of Prairie City, SD, and Alison (Gerry) Thompson of Gallatin Gateway, MT. Her grandchildren are J.D. (Christi) Ryen and Amanda (Tyler) Skoggin and Andrew Thompson and great grandson Kort Ryen. Lena was also close to nephews Mark, Lyle, and Brett Hedges and Curtis Doherty and niece Jerilyn Lessley. Lena enjoyed sewing and embroidery projects, loved her flower garden and camping. She and Jim even took a motor home trip to Alaska. A special joy that filled Lena’s life after Jim passed away was the arrival of grandson Andrew. She helped care for him during the greenhouse flower season. She still has many of the pictures he drew for her. While Lena lived with Parkinson’s disease in the last years of her life, she was a blessing to all who came near her. She touched lives with a true loving spirit.