Obituary of Blanche Rannie Henry

Blanche Rannie Riggins Derwantz Henry

April 13, 1928 ~ March 5, 2026

Blanche was born April 13, 1928, and passed away March 5, 2026, at age 97 years, ten months and eight days.

She leaves to mourn her children: Diane Anderson, Wayne Derwantz, Larry (Susan) Derwantz and Scott (Debbie) Derwantz; eight grand children; six great grandchildren; brother Jim Riggins; sisters: Viola (Winston) Smith, Pat Riggins and Cheryll Martin; many nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.

She was predeceased by two husbands, Richard Derwantz and Dale Henry; daughter Linda Arlene Derwantz; daughter-in-law Lynn Derwantz; siblings: Muriel (Bud) Hayes, Donald (Lorraine) Riggins, Shirley (Les) Campbell, Monte (Linda) Riggins, Ruth Riggins and Darlene (Bob) Robinson.

She was born at home on a farm near Leo, Alberta, she was the oldest of twelve children: Muriel, Ranold, Donald, Shirley, Melvin (Jim), Gary, Darlene, Monte, Viola, Pat and Cheryll, twenty years difference between the eldest to the youngest. Everyone worked hard, doing chores, farming and gardening. Blanche worked outside helping in the hayfields and harvesting, but she helped Mom more in the house with cooking, cleaning and babies. She said she could change a diaper with pins and bath a baby when she was six years old. Their family was big, but everyone always enjoyed each other and had lots of good times and were very close. This is the way Blanche continued with her own family – loving, caring and sharing.

Blanche went to country school, Leo for Grades One through Nine, then she and Muriel went to Stettler High School. Blanche went to the University of Calgary to become a teacher and later finished her education degree in winter courses and summer school. She taught one year and three months at Summerhill School south of Endiang.

Blanche married Richard Derwantz April 15, 1949, and they lived on the farm north of Endiang and had three children, Linda who was stillborn, Diane and Wayne. They moved to Stettler in 1954, and Richard bought a farm implement dealership and Blanche taught at Waverly School for thirty-one years. During this time, they moved to a farm north of Stettler for four years and Larry and Scott were born. The family moved back to Stettler to a new home in Parkdale in 1961. Blanche kept teaching and Richard worked at the Nevis Gas Plant. In 1987 they retired and started spending winters in Arizona. They did lots of travelling to other states, Europe and Hawaii many times. They enjoyed golfing, curling, dancing and were members of the Lions/Lioness Clubs and the United Church. Blanche made five holes in one, golfing and her car license read “5HLSN1”. Richard died in November of 1997 with Parkinson’s Disease.

Blanche married Dale Henry on October 1^st, 2001. They resided in Stettler but moved to Red Deer in 2003. They enjoyed dancing, golfing, and travelling until Dale passed away in April of 2015 with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Blanche was a very proud grandma to: Rick (Mel), Stephanie (Nick), Lisa, Erica, Hilary (Eric), Ashley (David), Rebecca, and Victoria; and great grandma to: Keaton, Logan, Jaslynn, Kendall, Zephyr and Lennyn.

Blanche had a big family and many wonderful friends and relatives. She was always happy to see any of them and loved everyone! She was a great caregiver to family and friends and for the last few years she still enjoyed meals out with family, playing cards and visiting with everyone. She passed peacefully and will be sadly missed.

Celebration of Life

Friday, March 13, 2026, at 11:00 AM

Stettler United Church, Stettler, Alberta

Memorial donations may be made to Gadsby Omega Cemetery, c/o Box 54, Gadsby, Alberta, T0C 1K0 or Stettler Health Services Foundation, P.O. Bag 500, Stettler, Alberta, T0C 2L0. Condolences may be sent to the family, please visit www.stettlerfuneralhome.com.