Mike J. Blando

Aberdeen, SD

1934, 2748, Hazelrodt, Tom Berry, Tigerville, F-15,
1935, 2748, Tigerville (Keystone), F-15, Ass't Leader

U.S. Veteran Mike J. Blando Sr., resident of Ponca City, passed away Friday, July 18, 2014 in Ponca City, at the age of 98.

A funeral mass will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Kevin Ratterman officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends on Monday, July 21, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Trout Funeral Home.

Mike was born July 8, 1916, in Brown County, South Dakota, the 8th of 10 children born to Frank and Frances Blando. When Mike was very young the family moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota where Mike received his education. At the age of 16, Mike joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked in the Black Hills of South Dakota and at Mt. Rushmore at the time the faces were being carved. Mike moved to Ponca City in 1936 and worked at Midwest Creamery. He joined the Air Force in 1941 as a line chief at Lubbock, Texas and Frederick, Oklahoma. He was discharged from service in 1945.

On July 17, 1942, Mike married Pearl R. Wosika in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Mike was a caretaker at the American Legion where they lived for two years before he bought a small acreage and they moved to Round Grove Community, west of Ponca City. They moved to Braden Community, east of Ponca City in 1955 where lived and farmed a 160 - acre farm. In 1967 Mike started work for Gold Spot Dairy and retired in 1978.

Mike was preceded in death by his wife, four brothers and five sisters.

He is survived by three children, Frances Coonrod, Diana Soderstrom and Mike J. Blando Jr.; five grandchildren, Shelli Hackney, Rick Stolhand, Kristal Junkens, Kelsey Roberts, Katy Blando; seven great grandchildren.

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