Loving mother and grandmother Blanche Ann Welbaum, 91, of Peoria, Arizona passed away surrounded by family on Friday, November 11, 2022 at Honor Health Deer Valley Medical Center in Phoenix after a brief battle with complications resulting from a stroke.

Blanche was born on July 9, 1931 in Wales, ND to parents Juliet Marie and Joseph Henry Fetsch. After graduating Wales High School, Blanche went on to study at Sisters of St. Joseph School of Nursing in Fargo, ND. After obtaining her nursing degree, she received her commission as a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force in 1956. Blanche faithfully and honorably served our country as a psychiatric nurse, with assignment locations in Des Plaines, IL, Biloxi, MS, Austin, TX, Milwaukee, WI, and Wiesbaden, Germany.

 In 1967, Blanche left Active Duty and transitioned to the Reserves, serving out of March Air Reserve Base in Moreno Valley, CA. In addition to her service in the Air Force Reserves, where she earned the rank of Major, she also worked as a nurse at Edgemoor Hospital in Santee, CA. Also in 1967, Blanche’s life was forever changed when she met Tom Welbaum at the El Cortez Hotel in San Diego, CA. She and Tom married on October 3, 1970 in Wales, ND. Blanche and Tom went on to have two daughters together, Martha Ann and Rebecca Lynn. 

Blanche officially retired in 1996 and spent her time gardening, cheering for the San Diego Padres baseball team, going for walks, solving crossword puzzles, watching hummingbirds in her backyard and spending time with family and friends.  Blanche was preceded in death by her husband Tom, parents Joseph and Juliet, siblings Lloyd, Dale, Mae June, and Joyce, and countless other beloved friends and family members. She is survived by her daughters Martha Marshall (Kevin) of Surprise, AZ and Rebecca Kollath (Brian) of Tampa, FL and grandchildren Jeremiah of Buckeye, AZ, Juliana of Surprise, AZ, Eden of Tampa, FL, Thomas of Tampa FL, and Justin of Surprise, AZ.

Services will be held on Friday, January 13, 2023 at 2:30pm at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, CA. In lieu of flowers, Blanche’s family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. 

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