B. Blanche Farthing

Blanche Farthing


Longtime Lander resident, Blanche Farthing died Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at her home of natural causes.


Services are set for Wednesday, September 10 at 11 a.m. at Hudson's Funeral Home.


Blanche Farthing was born near Westville, Oklahoma on February 6, 1917. She was the daughter of C. W. "Web" and Jennie Hambrick. Her family moved to Lander when she was two months old.


She attended grade school at the Boulder Hill School on the Rawlins road. It was a one room school in which 12-17 students attended. Much of the time she was the only girl. She graduated from FCVHS in 1934.


Blanche married William A. Farthing on June 29, 1935. They had one son, William L. Farthing.


She worked at FCVHS as the secretary-'office girl' from 1942 to 1959 except for the four years that Billy was in high school. During 1 950-54 she worked for Tom Rickard, a lawyer; George Reed, an architect and Hugh Jones, a realtor. She also wrote the society column for the Wyoming State Journal. From 1960-1972, she handled the insurance business for the Hugh Jones Agency.


In 1972, Blanche and Bill started their own real estate agency, Star Realty. Bill, Jr. and his wife Karen Ann joined the business in 1976. Bill, Sr. passed away in 1984 and Blanche remained very active in Star Realty until 1999 when they closed the office and retired. Blanche was very proud of her ability to find homes for people to buy or rent. She loved making early morning phone calls and saying, "This is Blanche" and people knew who they were talking with!


Blanche and Bill were instrumental in starting the Cub Scouts in Lander. She served on the first Lander Parks and Recreation Board. . She helped found the Lander Ditch Company to help with the ditches through town. She was a member of the ESA Sorority. Blanche was a 55 year member of Chapter Q, P.E.O. She served as president of Chapter Q twice and was their delegate to the International PEO Convention in Iowa in 1969.


Blanche served as one of the Parade Marshals for the 2008 "Pageant of the Old West" Parade during the Lander Pioneer Days.


Blanche was known for her beautiful garden and for working in it Very early' in the morning! Her other hobbies included scrap booking, playing bridge, history of the Lander Valley and real estate.


Her family was the focus of her life. She was known as Aunt Blanche, Grandma and Great-Grandma by her many nieces, nephews and grandchildren and also many neighbor children. Last summer, the Hambrick family celebrated a family reunion in Lander in which over 60 family members attended from 7 different states.


Blanche is survived by her son, Bill and his wife Karen Ann of Lander; three grandchildren, Lynn McRann and her husband, Mike, of Lander; Bobby and his wife Kathy of Poway, California; and Kristin Ashdown and Her husband, Boyd, of Tucson, Arizona. Ten great grandchildren; Collin, Chad, Colton and Kaitlyn McRann of Lander; Kory, Kristie and Kellie Farthing of Poway. Kortni, Brayden and Breck Ashdown of Tucson. One sister, Lois Alien and her husband, Reed, of Lander and sister-in-law, Myrna Milleson and husband Jim of Lander. She is also survived by 12 nephews and 13 nieces, one of whom is Jenny Hambrick who has been Blanche's companion and care giver the past two years.


She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bill; four brothers, Mitchell, Bert, Dale and Jimmy Hambrick and one sister, Nancy Landers; brother-in-law, James Farthing, and 3 nephews and 1 niece.


Memorials may be made to the Pioneer Museum of Lander, 1443 W Main St, Lander, WY 82520, and the P.E.O. Projects, C/O Kathy Bertagnolli, PO Box 1171, Lander, WY 82520. .