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Joan Blankenship

April 19, 1943-April 24, 2021

Joan Patricia (Straight)

Blankenship, 78, formerly

of Minot, passed away on

Saturday, April 24, 2021

in her home located in

Centennial, Colorado.

The daughter of Ray-

mond and Eva (Bertsch)

Straight, Joan was born on

April 19, 1943, in Minot

ND. She grew up in

Minot, attended Bishop

Ryan High School, and

earned a Bachelor of So-

cial Work degree from

Minot State University.

Joan worked as a

Discharge Planner at Hi-

Desert Medical Center in

Joshua Tree, California for

several years before mov-

ing to Colorado in 1997 to

be close to her daughter.

Joan loved to listen to

music and attend live

concerts. Elton John was

at the top of her list! She

loved to vacation in Mexi-

co and sun herself on the

beach. Spending time

with her grandson (her

buddy!) was the time she

cherished the most.

Her loving family in-

cludes: daughter Shawn

Ashton and grandson Jus-

tin Ashton, Denver, CO;

sister Dianne (Dave)

Giessinger and brother

Jim (Lisa) Straight, Minot,

ND; sister-in-law Judy

Straight, St. Paul, MN;

several nieces, nephews,

and cousins.

Joan was preceded in

death by her parents, Ray

and Eva Straight, brother

Duane Straight, and

sister-in-law Robbie

Straight.

In lieu of funeral ser-

vices, and to honor Joan’s

wishes, a private burial

has been scheduled.

“You’re a butterfly…

And butterflies are free to

fly… Fly away …High

away…”