Blanche Spencer

Blanche Spencer Long-time Nio. Resident Dies

Funeral service for Mrs. Blanche Spencer, 84, former resident and hospital administrator in Lusk was held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Clark-Haggenjos Funeral Home in Rantoul, Ill.

Mrs. Spencer died last Thursday in Mercy Hospital in Urbana, Ill., where she had been a patient about three weeks.

The Rev. Roy Adams officiated at the service with burial in the Maplewood Cemetery at Rantoul.

Mrs. Spencer was born August 12, 1888, in Chicago, a daughter of William and Anna Lehman Kuhne. She moved with her parents to Rantoul as a child. She came to Niobrara County in 1920 to teach the Ruffing rural school. In 1921 she became teacher of the Cheyenne River School and in that community met and married James Spencer, son of a pioneer family of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer organized the first church and Sunday school in that community in 1922, and though she had no children she served as Sunday school superintendent for 20 years as weather and ranch conditions permitted the school to be held.

Mr. Spencer died in 1942, and she moved to Lusk the following year though she continued to actively manage the ranch until 1950. But meanwhile she became absorbed with other activities. For eight years she was associated with the Lusk Hospital, seven as its superintendent. For three consecutive years she was county chairman for the drive for infantile paralysis and later chairman for the Cancer Society.

She was president of the Congregational Church Circle, president of the Lusk Business and Professional Women's Club, member of the Lusk Rebekah Lodge and Lusk Woman's Club. She was active in Red Cross conducting its first aid courses. In 1955 through the sponsorship of the Lusk Lions Club and the B&P.W. Club she was presented the Wyoming Distinguished Service Award by the Casper Kiwanis Club.

She moved back to Rantoul in 1962 where she was a member of the United Methodist Church and the Rebekah Lodge.

She is survived by two nephews and four nieces. Her parents, husband, three sisters and a brother died previously.

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