Death of Henry BLAKEY (18 Dec 1904)

Obituary. Henry BLAKEY (18 Dec 1904). Jackson Republic, Jackson, MN.

Death of Henry Blakey

Henry Blakey, one of the early pioneers of Jackson county, died at his home in this city last Sunday morning at four o'clock, after an illness of several weeks. The funeral was held from the residence on Monday, Rev. Wilkinson, pastor of the M. E. church, conducting the services.

Henry Blakey was born at Bradford, England, April 15, 1829, and at the time of his death was 75 years, 8 months and 4 days old. He came to this country in 1856, settling in Wisconsin where he remained for a year, when he moved to Jackson county where he has resided ever since.

He leaves a wife and three sons, James the eldest, of Hayward, Wisconsin, and George and William of this city.

Mr. Blakey was a quiet, unassuming gentleman, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. On the 24th of September, three months ago, Mr. and Mrs. Blakey were tendered a public reception at the Presbyterian church parlors, the occasion being their golden wedding, the fiftieth anniversary of their married life.

Mr. Blakey was a continuous subscriber of the JACKSON REPUBLIC from its first issue, over thirty-five years ago to the day of his death. Upon looking up his account on the subscription books it was discovered that his subscription was paid to Dec. 18th, 1904, the very day upon which he died.

Death of Jemima Thorpe BLAKEY (27 Jul 1905)

Obituary. Jemima Thorpe BLAKEY (27 Jul 1905).

Death of Mrs. Blakey

The sudden death of Mrs. Henry Blakey occurred after only a few hours sickness at her home in the west part of the city on last Thursday morning. Mrs. Blakey has not been in the best of health since the death of her husband last fall, but that her end would come as soon was not entertained by any of her friends or family.

Jemimia Thorpe was born in Bradford, England, May 9, 1829 and came to America forty-seven years ago with her husband to Wisconsin where they remained about ten years when they came to Jackson county where they have since made their home. They homesteaded a fine quarter section west of Jackson where they lived until they came to this city to reside in 1894.

Mrs. Blakey was a woman who had won many friends by her kind manner and was always ready to assist a friend or neighbor when help or sympathy was needed. She was the mother of three sons, James, of Hayward, Wis., George and William here at home, Emily, the only daughter having died during their residence in Wisconsin.

The funeral was held from the home on Saturday, the Rev. Wilkinson preaching the farewell sermon. The body was laid to rest in Riverside cemetery beside those of her husband amid a large offering of floral tributes.

Obituary: James BLAKEY (28 Mar 1928)

Obituary. James BLAKEY (28 Mar 1928).

Funeral of Former Resident Held Here
James Blakey, Early Pioneer Here, Laid to Rest in Riverside Cemetery Friday Afternoon

Funeral services were held from the Methodist church in this city on last Friday afternoon, honoring the memory of James Blakey, pioneer of this vicinity, who passed away at the home of his son, Robert, near Duluth, March 28th.

Mr. Blakey was known to every early settler of this community where he spent his boyhood days and where he later was the head of a splendid family. The Blakey family left Jackson county about 28 years ago, [c. 1900] settling for a while near Hayward, Wisconsin, and later moving to the vicinity near Duluth. Mr. Blakey during his many years residence in this county enjoyed the respect and friendship of a large circle of friends and news of his passing was received here with deep regret.

James Blakey was the eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Blakey pioneers of Des Moines township. He was born in Manchester, England, in 1856 and came to America with his parents when one year of age. May 26, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss Roseanna Haggert [sic] who passed away in 1894. Seven children blessed their union, all living with the exception of a daughter, who passed away in infancy. The funeral services here last Friday were attended by the following children: Newton Blakey and Mrs. Mabel Hulbert of Duluth and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Blakey of Superior, Wis., and Walter Blakey of Hayward, Wis. Mr. Blakey was also a brother of George Blakey of Des Moines township to whom the deepest sympathy is extended.

The services Friday afternoon were conducted by Rev. Meierbachtel and were attended by many old time friends of the Blakey family.

George E. Blakey, Pioneer of Jackson County, is Mourned

Obituary. George E. BLAKEY (8 Dec 1945).

George E. Blakey, Pioneer of Jackson County, is Mourned
Was One of the Earliest Residents of This Community and Gentleman Held in High Regard

Jackson friends and those of the Des Moines township community, are mourning the passing last Saturday of George E. Blakey, who passed away quietly at the Blakey residence on North Highway. Mr. Blakey had been a resident of Jackson county for 78 years.

Mr. Blakey, a gentleman of quiet but genial manner, was one of the earliest settlers in Jackson county where during his long years of residence he had proven himself an excellent citizen and kindly neighbor. A gentleman of robust honesty, his council was often sought by friends while his reputation as a husband and father will always remain a pleasing remembrance to his immediate family.

George Edward Blakey was born in Wisconsin, February 17, 1863, and passed peacefully away at 12:50 noon, December 8, 1945, at his home on North Highway in Jackson. Death was due to the infirmities of his advanced age.

Mr. Blakey's health began to fail about two years ago, but he became bedfast just the last two days before his death. He was 82 years, 9 months and 21 days old.

Mr. Blakey came to Jackson county with his parents, Henry and Jemimia Blakey, at the age of four years. He lived with his parents on the homestead in Des Moines township until 1894, when he bought the farm on which he resided until he moved with his family to their home in Jackson, August 30, 1945.

He was married to Lottie Kephart of Middletown township, November 21, 1894. To this union were born two sons, Orville, at home, and Verland of Windom. Surviving him are the deeply bereaved wife, the two sons and three grandchildren, Gordon, Verla and Averland Blakey; also one brother, Will, of California, and many other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one sister.

Mr. Blakey was a man who had won many friends by his kind manner and was always ready to assist a friend or neighbor when help or sympathy were needed.

Throughout this last fatal illness he was a patient sufferer and appreciated every act of kindness. He had the constant and loving care of his devoted wife and children.

Mr. Blakey was obliged to pass through the hardships that were necessary to build Jackson county, however, one of the happiest epochs in his long Jackson county residence came when Mr. and Mrs. Blakey were priveleged to celebrate their golden anniversary on a happy day, November 21, 1944.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. T. A. Thompson of Windom, at 1:30 at the home and 2:00 from Our Savior's Lutheran church of Jackson, on Tuesday afternoon, December 11.

Burial was held in Riverside cemetery. Pallbearers were Frank Green, Herman Eggimann, R. C. Muir, Albert Eggimann, Frank Dorschner and Mike Kanuch. Music was furnished by Mrs. Harry Graves and James S. Peterson; Mrs. Leonora Mix, organist.

Funeral Held Dec. 9 For Orville B. Blakey

Obituary. Orville Brunson Blakey (6 Dec 1961).

Funeral Held Dec. 9 For Orville B. Blakey

Orville B. Blakey, a native of Des Moines Twp. who passed his 65th birthday Oct. 25, was found dead at his home about 7 p. m. on Dec. 6.

Funeral services were conducted from Sathe Funeral Home on Dec. 9 with the Rev. Roy C. Thompson of First Methodist Church officiating. Music was provided by the Bergen octet. Interment followed in Riverside Cemetery.

Orville Brunson Blakey, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Blakey, was born Oct. 25, 1896, in Des Moines Twp., where he attended the rural schools. After his father's death in 1945, he and his mother came to this city to make their home. For the past 17 years he had been employed by Willett Gravel Co.

Mr. Blakey is survived by his aged mother, Mrs. Lottie Blakey, 91; one brother Verland of Windom; three nieces, and two nephews.

Out-of-town relatives who attended the services were Mrs. Vincent Williams, Mark and Dawn, of Decorah, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Rost and Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Kephart of Lakefield, and Mr. and Mrs. Lester Norgrant of Spirit Lake.

Mrs. George Blakey Dies at Windom

Obituary. Lottie (Kephart) BLAKEY (27 May 1964). Jackson Pilot, Jackson, MN (4 Jun 1964).

Mrs. George Blakey Dies at Windom;
Last Rites Here Friday

Mrs. George (Lottie) Blakey, 93, a resident of the Jackson area for over 75 years, died May 27 at Sogge Memorial Home in Windom from the complications accompanying advanced age. She had been in the home since 1962.

Funeral services were conducted Friday afternoon at Sathe Funeral Home with the Rev. Roy C. Thompson of First Methodist Church officiating. Interment took place beside her husband in Riverside Cemetery.

Lottie Kephart, daughter of Alfred and Mary Kephart, was born March 9, 1871, in Dubuque County, Ia. She attended rural schools in Dubuque County and also in Jackson County, where she accompanied her parents as a young girl.

On Nov. 21, 1894, her marriage to George Blakey was solemnized in Jackson. To this marriage, two sons, Verland and Orville, were born.

* * *
Mr. Blakey passed away Dec. 8 [1945] and a son Orville, who made his home with her, died Dec. 6, 1961. Failing health eventually took Mrs. Blakey to the Sogge Home in Windom, where she was near her son Verland and family.

Other survivors besides her son are Gordon Blakey of Bingham Lake, Mrs. Vincent (Verla) Williams of Decorah, Ia., Averland Blakey of Boise, Ida., Sharon and Pamela Blakey of Windom, grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Ernest Pierson of Jackson and Mrs. R. R. Rost of Lakefield; and two brothers, R. C. Kephart of Aitkin and Levi Kephart of Sanborn.

Coming from a distance for the services were Dr. and Mrs. Vincent Williams of Decorah, Ia., Mrs. Leslie Rost of Albert Lea, Mr. and Mrs. George Freeman and daughter of Walnut Grove, Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Rost of Lakefield, and Mr. and Mrs. Lester Norgrant of Spirit Lake.

Death of Cora (Ridgeway) BLAKEY (22 Jan 1904)

Obituary. Cora Ridgeway BLAKEY (22 Jan 1904).

Death of Mrs. Blakey

Last Friday morning occured the death of Mrs. Wm. H. Blakey. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon from the Presbyterian church, Rev. Weaver conducting the services. Interment was had in Riverside cemetery.

Cora Avanell Ridgeway, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Ridgeway, was born in Jackson county, Sept. 9, 1881, being at the time of her death, 22 years, 4 months and 13 days old. She has grown to womanhood here, and all who knew her esteemed her for her virtue and amiable nature. Her friends were all who knew her. On Christmas day, 1900, she was united in marriage with Will Blakey, and since then the young people have enjoyed a happy domestic life in the upstairs rooms of the senior Mr. Blakey's home.

A little babe was born to them two weeks ago, but the young mother failed, and when the little one was but a week old its mother passed away. It is a severe blow for the father, but in the little one he has a precious legacy from her who has gone.

The following verses, written by Mrs. [?] S. Barrett and lovingly dedicated to the memory of her who has gone, tell the regard of all who knew Mrs. Blakey for her sincere Christian character and their love for her:

God has called a loved one from us, called her to her heavenly home.
She is waiting there to welcome all her dear ones when they come.
Just to know here was to love her for her many ways so kind,
A more faithful wife and mother or friend you'll never find.

Yes, she's waiting at the gateway of that city bright and fair,
For her loved ones all to join her, that they, too, her joy may share.
And when o'er life's rugged pathway strong temptations to us come,
May her beckoning hands rebuke us and ever keep us from the wrong.

And may she intercede for us that our sins may be forgiven,
Be a messenger of love between our hears and heaven.
To know that she is happy gives our aching hearts relief,
But we morn that one so dear should have a life so brief.

Obituary: Agnes M. BLAKEY (5 Aug 2004)

Screenshot from JacksonCountyPilot.com (18 May 2006). Image courtesy of Web Archive.org. Also cached at Ancestry.com.

Agnes M. Blakey, 94

Funeral services for Agnes M. Blakey of North Mankato were held Monday afternoon, Aug. 9, at the Sathe-Osterberg Funeral Home in Jackson, with Pastor Ed Wenger, Pastor Jon Campbell and Pastor Carter Krumbach officiating. Agnes M. Blakey died Aug. 5, 2004, at her daughter's home in North Mankato. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery, Jackson.

Casket bearers were her grandsons: Ryan Bergan, Joshua Bergan, Larry Blakey, Lynden Blakey, Kelsey Asche and Mark Williams. Lois Thoreson was the organist, Jo Olson sang a solo, and George Bakalyer and Sandy Robinson sang a duet. Funeral arrangements were in care of the Sathe-Osterberg Funeral Home of Jackson.

Agnes Marie Roe, daughter of Albert and Mina (Hoganson) Roe, was born Aug. 22, 1909, in Des Moines Township, Jackson County. She attended country school and later graduated from Jackson High School in 1927.

On Aug. 22, 1927, she was united in marriage to Verland E. Blakey in Jackson. After marriage, they farmed in Jackson County and later in Cottonwood County. They moved into Jackson in 1995. After Verland's death on July 24, 1996, Agnes continued to make her home in Jackson. She later moved to North Mankato in 1998, and four months ago she moved in with her daughter.

Agnes was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She had been a member of the Living Word Lutheran Church in Windom and the Hilltop Community Church in Jackson, and she attended the Word of Life Free Lutheran Church in Mankato. She was very active in the churches, teaching Sunday school for many years, in circles, and Ladies Aid and in the Zion Society. Agnes made many sweaters and quilts for layettes to be sent to the Lutheran World Relief, and she loved to do handwork - crocheting.

Agnes is survived by one son, Gordon and wife Shirley Blakey of Brighton, Colo.; three daughters, Pam and husband Tom Wilmes of North Mankato, Verla and husband Vincent Williams of Iowa City, Iowa, and Sharon and husband Dalen Asche of Bloomington, Minn.; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; one niece, Elaine Graves of Jackson; and two nephews, Roland and wife Mari Graves of Rochester, Minn., and Sid Roe of Arizona.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Verland Blakey; one son, Averland Blakey; one brother, Sherman Roe; one sister, Ella Graves; and one son-in-law, Robert Bergan.

Obituary: Averland Virgil BLAKEY

Memorial and Obituary. Averland Virgil BLAKEY (11 Mar 1970).

Obituary: Gordon Robert BLAKEY

Obituary. Gordon Robert BLAKEY. Image courtesy of Mark D. Williams.


Gordon Robert Blakey

December 16, 1929 – December 26, 2018

Gordon Robert Blakey, 89, of Brighton passed away on December 26, 2018. He was born on December 16, 1929 in Jackson, Minnesota, the oldest of five children born to Verland Edward and Agnes (Roe) Blakey. He was baptized on January 5, 1930. Gordon was a 1947 graduate of Windom High School in Minnesota. He married Shirley Jurgens on November 23, 1953 at St. Frances Xavier Catholic Church, in Windom, Minnesota.

Gordon grew up working on the family farm. He served four years in the US Army during the Korean conflict at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. After the Army, he worked as a carpenter building homes in Minnesota. In 1970, he moved the family to Aurora, Colorado, and began building homes for Sanford Homes giving 100% to his employer. When their children left home, he and Shirley moved to Brighton, Colorado. A talented woodworker, in retirement he spent hours in his garage shop making shelves, picture frames, and other keepsakes.

Gordon loved country western music and his ice cream. He wasn't a talker, but when he did he was wise with his words. He was a hard worker, teaching his children a strong work ethic; yet he cherished his rest and Sundays of worship at Zion Lutheran Church, Brighton, CO, where he was a faithful communicant member and an usher for many years. Gordon was adored by the youngest grandchildren and loved by everyone around him. He left a legacy with many good memories. He will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his children, Laurene (Ken) Klassen of Mountain Lake, MN; Lynden (Julie) Blakey of Commerce City, CO; Leslee Stowell (Roger Jardee) of Westminster, CO; LeAnn (Kevin) Thomas of Kiowa, CO; Lisa Minton of Lochbuie, CO; Larry (Diane) Blakey of Brighton, CO; and Leah (Danny) Wagner also of Brighton, CO; siblings, Verla Williams, Sharon Asche and Pam Wilmes; 22 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Verland and Agnes Blakey; his wife, Shirley, in 2009; and brother, Averland Blakey.

Funeral Service for Gordon are at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 4, 2019 at Zion Lutheran Church, Brighton, Colorado. Interment will be on Monday, January 7, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd., Denver, Colorado. Memorials may be given to TRU Community Care Hospice: trucare.org/donate

Obituary: Verla Ardis Blakey

Screenshot of Verla Ardis (BlAKEY) Williams Obituary. Image courtesy of Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service and Williams Family.

Obituary of Verla A. Williams

Verla A. (Blakey) Williams died on May 4, 2026, and went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Verla was born April 28, 1932, in Jackson, Minnesota, to Verland E. and Agnes M. (Roe) Blakey. She was baptized into the Christian faith by Rev. A. M. Mannes on May 15, 1932, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Jackson. When she was a young girl, the family moved to a farm outside Windom, Minnesota. She graduated with honors from Windom High School in 1949.

Her interest in her Christian faith led her to enroll at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she graduated in 1951. For a short period of time while looking for a position where the Lord might lead her, she worked at Lutheran Brotherhood in the Twin Cities. She received and accepted a call for a parish worker from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. She served them and the Lord from 1951 to 1953. Verla then accepted a call from First Lutheran Church in Decorah, Iowa to be their parish secretary in 1954 and remained there till 1956.

In 1955 she met the love of her life in Decorah on a blind date, and she and Vincent D. Williams were married on September 1, 1956, at the Windom Evangelical Lutheran Church in Windom. While her husband finished his senior year of dental school, she worked as a typist in the Department of Political Science at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

Verla accompanied her husband after he graduated from the University of Iowa Dental College in 1957 to Harlingen, Texas, where until 1960 he was stationed as a dentist in the United States Air Force. In Harlingen she was very active as a Bible study and circle leader at Grace Lutheran Church, while her husband was in the service of his country.

With Vince, Dawn, and Mark, she moved back to Decorah in 1960 to raise her family with the later addition of Arik and Jené. Verla loved to bowl and was instrumental in originating the “Red Smocks,” a local women’s bowling league that benefited the Decorah Memorial Hospital. She continued her work for the Lord by leading Bible studies and circle at First Lutheran Church in Decorah.

After seventeen years in Decorah, Verla moved with Vince and their family to Iowa City where her husband had taken a position with the College of Dentistry at the University. She continued to serve her family and reached out to help others with her volunteer work at Zion Lutheran Church as a quilter and Bible study leader. Her quilting group has made hundreds of quilts to help the less fortunate around the world through Lutheran World Relief. She was also a member and leader in the Iowa City Norse Club since 1978.

Verla was also an active and respected genealogist who studied under the tutelage of Dr. Gerhard Naeseth of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This passionate interest in genealogy led her to enroll at the University of Iowa to study courses at the graduate level to increase her effectiveness as a genealogist. Volunteer work for the Iowa State Historical Association in Iowa City led to her receiving the Governors’ Award by the State of Iowa for two years respectively in the 1980s. Her monumental work of indexing all of the Norwegian immigrants in the 1900 Census for both the states of Iowa and Minnesota (over 90,000 index cards) for the Naeseth Genealogical Center in Madison, Wisconsin led her to receive an honored award from both the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, and the Norwegian American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library in 2006 and 2008 respectively.

Verla also loved to travel. She and Vince went to Norway several times, and to Anguilla, Canada, Guam and Europe.

Verla is survived by her husband, Dr. Vincent D. Williams of Iowa City; four children: Dawn Boyd (Robert), Dr. Mark D. Williams, Arik Williams (Stacie), and Jené Daub (John); eight grandchildren: Heather Romero (Xavier) and Andrew Boyd (Samantha); Roslyn Grace Williams; Kaelyn, Amaya, and Lauren Williams; and BrandiAnne and John Daub lll; and five great grandchildren: Grayson Romero, Dylan Link, Abraham and Lily Boyd, and Boone Lampshire.  Also surviving are two sisters, Sharon Asche (Dalen) and Pamella Wilmes (Thomas), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Verland and Agnes Blakey, two brothers, Averland and Gordon Blakey, and one granddaughter, Stephania Daub.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 9, 2026 Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service with Pastor Brent Hartwig officiating.   A reception and time of fellowship will follow the service. The burial will be at the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.  Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is in charge of the funeral arrangements. 

Honorary pallbearers were her grandchildren: Heather Romero, Andrew Boyd, BrandiAnne Daub, John “J. T.” Daub III, Kaelyn Williams, Amaya Williams, Lauren Williams, and Roslyn Grace “Rozz” Williams.

Verla was a very loving wife and mother to her husband and family. As a Christian mother she brought up her children in the Christian faith and was a Christian role model for them throughout her life.

Verla loved her Lord and Savior and served Him daily in all her activities. She is now with her Lord and Savior and what a special place in Heaven is reserved for people like her for a job well done.

SOURCE: "Obituary of Verla A Williams," GayAndCiha.com (7 May 2026). https://gayandciha.com/tribute/details/5440/Verla-Williams/obituary.html. Accessed 14 May 2026.