Blanche Schmierer, 96, formerly of Linton, ND, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2016 at her home in Everett, WA. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, December 2, 2016 at United Methodist Church, Linton, ND, with Pastor Marlin Sapp officiating. Burial will be in Temvik Cemetery, Temvik, ND. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Myers Funeral Home, Linton. Visitation will continue for one hour before services at the church on Friday.Blanche was born in Temvik, ND on August 28, 1920 to Katherine and Peter Nelson, Sr. She grew up and attended school in Temvik. She moved to Portland, Oregon with her younger sister, Beverly, and worked at the Willamette Shipyard during WWII. She married Alvin Sauter on New Year's Eve 1945 in Portland. They lived in CA, WA, and MN before returning to North Dakota in 1957 where they farmed near Temvik and Moffit, and raised their daughters. They lived in LaMoure for one year and moved back to Linton in 1968. Blanche was a loving wife and mother, and a homemaker who loved to bake. Alvin died in January 1972. Blanche loved the Lord and was an active member of the Linton United Methodist Church. She served as President of the UMW for several years, and enjoyed hosting the ladies from the church in her home. She never had a driver's license, and regularly walked to church, downtown to get groceries, and to the hospital to visit anyone she knew who was there. She often relied on the kindness of friends and family to take her where she needed to go. She worked in the cafeteria at Linton Public School for many years, and was a kind and friendly face to all the students. She also worked at Jan's Caf and at Renschler's Restaurant as a dishwasher. She married John Schmierer in Linton on November 23, 1986. They spent 14 happy years together and enjoyed trips to the Black Hills, the Peace Garden, and to visit family. John died in April 2000. In 2005, Blanche's growing family in Washington convinced her to move to Everett. She shared in the joy of many birthday parties, weddings, graduations, holidays, and picnics. She loved the trip to Seaside, Oregon each summer with her family and her sister, and when walking on the beach became too challenging she watched the kids and the kites from the hotel window. She attended the United Methodist Church in Snohomish. The Pastor and congregation of that church are a blessing. Although she loved being in Washington, she really missed her ND family, friends, and church, and tried to stay in touch. She looked forward to receiving recordings of the Linton church services, and read the Emmons County Record every week. In the summer of 2010 Blanche and her daughters returned to Linton for a visit. She celebrated an early 90th birthday party at the church, visited with many friends and family, and attended the Nelson Family Reunion at Seaman Park. Grateful to have shared her life are her sister, Beverly Mott of West Richland, WA; daughters Beverly Dustin of Everett and Birdie McIntosh of Mount Vernon; son-in-law, Bill Ellsworth of Blaine; step-daughters Lillian (Bob) Ward of Inver Grove, MN, and Lorna (Greg) Schafer of Dickinson, step-daughter-in-law Mary Schmierer of New Berlin, Wisconsin; one grandson and three granddaughters in Washington: Scott (Shannon) Dustin of Mill Creek, Kate (Paul) Gibson of Sedro-Woolley, Courtney (Mitchell) Sorestad of Bow, Sarah (Brian) Jones of Sedro Woolley; 3 step-grandsons: Carl (Lindsey) Schafer and Allan Schafer in ND, John (Mary) Schmierer in WI; 13 great-grandchildren in Washington: Karrina & Krista Calender, Duke Dustin, Kylie, Chloe & Caylin Gibson, Emma & Austin Maddox, Halden & Kathen Sorestad, Zoe, Zella, & Wesley Jones; and 4 step great-grandchildren: Grady Schafer, Benjamin, Noah and Natalie Schmierer; and many special nieces and nephews. Blanche also leaves behind her precious cat "Little One," who has been her constant companion and roommate for 15 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Gregory, Fred and Peter Jr., sisters Bernice Billingsley, Beulah Dockter, and Belinda Taxis; husbands Alvin and John; sons-in-law Gary Dustin and John McIntosh, step-son Edwin Schmierer, and many other family members and special friends. Blanche had a gentle and sweet spirit and was loved by everyone who knew her. She was so grateful to her daughter Beverly for providing wonderful care and companionship for all the years she lived in Washington. Our special thanks to Providence Hospice of Snohomish County, and to the nurses who provided weekly visits and compassionate care.