Beverly Blanning

1923 - 2023

Beverly Blanning died in her sleep on Nov. 22, 2023, in her favorite recliner at home in
Soldotna.
Bev was born on Aug. 10, 1923, in Fairbanks. Her father, Stan Morgan, was in the ACS branch of
the Army. Bev grew up in Point Barrow along with her father, mother, Beverly, and her brother,
Barrow. After being home schooled by her mother, Bev attended Catholic boarding high school
in Vancouver, Wash. She met her husband, James, when he was in the Army at Point Barrow.
They married in Nome at Old St. Joe's in 1945. Following that, they lived in Kotzebue, Kodiak,
Juneau, and back to Nome, where they lived for 14 years.
Along the way, they raised five children. Bev was a homemaker most of her life and was well
known for her baking, especially bread. She loved spending time at their cabin in Dexter and
going on camping and fishing trips.
After James retired from the military and civil service, they retired to Kenai and Bainbridge
Island, Washington, and eventually back to Kenai, missing their grandkids. Returning to Kenai in
1992, they lived there until James' death in 2006. Bev moved to Mt. Rose in Soldotna, where
she lived until her death. Bev turned 100 in August and was celebrated by her extended and
loving family.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Bev and Stan Morgan; her brother
Barrow Morgan and sister-n-law Donna Morgan; and her husband James Blanning.
Bev is survived by her sister, Alice (Robert) Glenn; her son, Michael (Lory) Blanning of North
Pole; daughter, Jean Gdula of Soldotna; son, Jim (Les) Blanning of Soldotna; son, Mark (Kenda)
Blanning of Kenai; and son, Bill (Cindy) Blanning of Wasilla. Also survived by grandchildren
Jeannie, Sheila, Breanne, Deanna, Patrick, Chris, Kari, Crystal, Stephanie, David, Kelvin, Breauna,
Jarek, and Blake.
She also had 33 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
According to her wishes, there will be no funeral service. There will be a spreading of her ashes
at a later date in the Niukluk River in Nome, where her husband's ashes were also spread.
Donations may be made in Bev's memory to the Kenai Food Bank where she volunteered for
several years.