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…”