No headline

John Thomas Blankenship, 79

John Thomas Blankenship, 79, Post Falls, Idaho, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 5, 2018, at Garden Plaza. John was born at home in Mountain View, Mo., to mother, Alta Pearl Hinrichs, and father, Thomas Franklin Blankenship.

Johnny grew up in Mountain View; Wichita, Kan., and Oklahoma. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He married his high school sweetheart, Naomi Jean Owens. They raised three sons and a daughter, John D., Orval L., Donald L. and Deena R., in Mountain View and then in Rathdrum, Idaho.

John had many jobs throughout his lifetime, from pharmacy tech to master carpenter. He traveled for his work all over the Northwest and lived in Alaska for three years, then moved back home to beautiful North Idaho to retire.

John was a member of the Eagles and the Northwest Gold Prospecting Association. He loved music, fishing and traveling. He and Jean traveled all over the U.S. in their RV, attending bluegrass festivals and visiting family.

He is preceded in death by father, Thomas Blankenship and mother, Alta Blankenship; sisters, Velma Fowler and Lorene Moore; and loving wife, Jean Blankenship. Survivors include sons, John D. (Alana) Blankenship of Chinook, Mont., Orval (Wanda) Blankenship of Newman Lake, Wash. and Donald Blankenship of Oldtown, Idaho; daughter, Deena Leonard of Rathdrum; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and many, many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for John will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, at Yates Funeral Home - Coeur d’Alene Chapel, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, ID, 83814, with a graveside at 1 p.m. at Pinegrove Cemetery, in Rathdrum.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit John’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com