Frieda Lee-Blanchard, 99, passed away peacefully on July 18, 2026, leaving a legacy of Christian faith, dedicated service, and a lifelong commitment to educating children.
Born on February 15, 1927, in North St. Paul, Minnesota, during a blizzard, Frieda grew up on her family's dairy farm in Gleason, Wisconsin. While attending Bethel Academy, she felt God's calling to become a teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Education degree from the State Teachers College at Stevens Point and received a lifetime Wisconsin teaching certificate.
During a 43-year teaching career, Frieda served in both public schools and Seventh-day Adventist schools. She taught in one-room country schools, the Rhinelander and Madison Seventh-day Adventist Schools, and spent 25 years at Ruth Murdoch Elementary School on the campus of Andrews University. She touched the lives of countless students through her kindness, faith, and dedication.
Frieda was first married to Fay Archie Lee, who preceded her in death. They had two children, Sandra Jane and Dennis. In 1995, she married Edison Blanchard, who preceded her in death in 2013. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Sandra Erickson, in 2010.
She is survived by her son, Dennis, and his wife, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, along with extended family, friends, former students, and her church family.
Above all, Frieda loved Jesus Christ and faithfully served Him throughout her life. Her family rejoices in a life well lived and the enduring legacy she leaves through her faith, her family, and the many lives she touched.
