Blanche Pratt

Blanche Jeanette Whiteley Pratt was born October 20, 1926 in a log house, the fifth daughter of Archie Lee Whiteley and Mary Eliza Bunch in Kingston, Madison, Arkansas.

Her family was a very religious family and members of the Baptist church. Her grandfather, Robert Andrew Whiteley, was a Baptist Minister. She grew up on her family’s farm doing many chores riding on her favorite horse Old Fancy helping her father as her family consisted of six girls and only one boy.  In September 1943 Blanche moved with her family to Twin Falls Idaho where she graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1945. She married Robert Sanders Pratt on September 7, 1947 in Twin Falls, Idaho.  They raised five children, three sons and two daughters living in Burley, Jerome and Twin Falls.

Blanche joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 20, 1951. They were sealed on May 23, 1956 in the Idaho Falls Temple.  They moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1960, then to Tooele, Utah in 1962. She worked for Tooele City a total of thirty two years in various capacities. Twenty of those years she was Tooele City Treasurer. She was an outstanding accountant, excellent record keeper and truly enjoyed her years working there.

She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints holding many positions in the Relief Society, Primary, and Genealogy and Family History. Researching family history brought her great enjoyment.  “Bob and Blanche” were always together holding hands and being of service to others.  She was of great support when Robert served as the Bishop of the Tooele 15th Ward and together they served a mission in St. George Utah from 1988 to 1989. She served as an ordinance worker in the Jordan River Temple for nine years.

After the death of her husband she moved to Santaquin, Utah where she was beloved by all who knew her. She died peacefully on November 13, 2017 in Springville, Utah surrounded by her children and family. We will miss her southern accent, her example and her guidance as the spiritual leader in our family.  Her journal attests to her true talents as a record keeper and will be treasured by her posterity.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Sanders Pratt; her brother Noble Whiteley; sisters, Ruby Head, Midge Moore, Bernice Bolinger and Virginia Garton. She is survived by one sister, Marietta James of Twin Falls, Idaho; children, Robert Steven Pratt (Cathy) of San Antonio, Texas, Dennis Lee Pratt (Nanette) of North Pole Alaska, Noble Bradley Pratt (Kaye) of Tooele, Utah, Mary Lynette Davis (Gary) of Santaquin, Utah, and Karen  Jeanette Westphal of Murray, Utah.  She has twenty-two grandchildren and thirty-nine great- grandchildren.

A viewing will be held November 16, 2017 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Brown Family Mortuary, 66 South 300 East, Santaquin, Utah.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, November 17, 2017 at the Tooele LDS Stake Center, 253 South 200 East, where friends may call from 9:00 to 9:45 am prior to the service. Interment, Tooele City Cemetery.

The family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to the staff and owners of Latter Days Assisted Living and the staff and owner of Ashford Assisted Living.  We are also appreciative of the loving and tender care provided by Brighton Hospice.