Donelda Lenore Blankenhorn

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Donelda Lenore Blankenhorn on Monday, April 23, 2018. Services will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at Emmerson-Bartlett Memorial Chapel, 703 Brookside Ave, Redlands, CA 92373. Viewing at 2:00 p.m. and funeral service at 3:00 p.m.
Donelda is preceded in death by her husband, David Carl Blankenhorn and she is survived by her two children: daughter Michelle Deann (Blankenhorn) Henderson and son Michael David Blankenhorn. She is also survived by her son-in-law William (Will) Henderson, daughter-in-law Julie Blankenhorn, three grandchildren Joseph (Joe) Henderson, Brooke Blankenhorn and Nicole Blankenhorn, her sister Lyn Behrens-Basaraba and many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family both in the United States and Australia.
Donelda (Donnie or Nelda) was born to Amelia and Alfred Behrens at Cooranbong, NSW, Australia on November 3, 1941. She was the second of two children following her older sister Lyn. She grew up living the first 25 years of her life in Cooranbong a small rural community north of Sydney. She attended primary school, high school and college in Avondale graduating with a secretarial degree. While growing up her primary means of transportation was walking or riding her bicycle which she did daily to school and work. On one occasion she wanted to swim in the ocean so she biked 50 miles round trip on a dirt road.  Some of her fondest childhood memories involve taking the train into the town of Newcastle where she went shopping, ate pastries and visited the ocean. She also loved visiting her grandparents’ small farm in Warburton, Victoria for summer vacations. Following graduation from college in 1958 she worked for the Sanitarium Health Food Company in Cooranbong until she left Australia in 1966.  She had never intended to leave Australia permanently but rather she had planned to meet up with her sister Lyn in California and begin their trip around the United States followed by plans to see the world and work in the mission fields in Africa. However, after arriving in California, Donelda met and married the love of her life David Carl Blankenhorn. They were married on September 8, 1968, in Loma Linda and welcomed their first child, Michelle Deann on November 1, 1969. Donelda’s life was full of adventure and her new life in the United States began with numerous camping & hiking trips with family and large groups of friends, climbing Mt Whitney and Mt San Gorgonio, hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, river rafting and visiting numerous National Parks all over the Country.
Donelda and family moved to the beautiful Pacific Northwest (Oregon) in 1972 and welcomed their second child, Michael David on August 16, 1975. During her time in Oregon she worked as the Assistant to the Director of Nursing at the Portland Adventist Medical Center from 1976 to 1990. Donelda continued her sense of adventure and love of travel with regular family camping, hiking and sightseeing trips all over the state of Oregon, Washington and Canada as well as a couple of trips back “home” to Australia and annual trips to California to visit family.
The longing to be closer to family eventually brought the Blankenhorn’s back to California when they moved to Barstow in 1990. Donelda worked as the Director of Medical Records at a nursing home in Barstow from 1990 to 1998. Her family then grew as she embraced her son-in-law Will and grandson Joe in 1992. During her time in Barstow she enjoyed exploring and learning to appreciate the beauty of the Mojave Desert as well as taking a few more trips back “home” to Australia.  Donelda and family proudly celebrated Michael’s graduation from basic training with the United States Air Force and he continues to serve in the Air National Guard. David and Donelda moved from Barstow returning to Loma Linda in 1998. She sadly, said goodbye to David, her husband of 32 years, in January of 2000 after he lost his battle with cancer.
The next chapter of Donelda’s life involved the joy of working in the Student Affairs office at the LLU School of Medicine as the Assistant to the Dean of Student Affairs from 2000 to 2008.  In 2001 she welcomed her daughter-in-law Julie into the family and her two granddaughters, Brooke in 2003 and Nicole in 2004. Donelda chose skydiving as her adventurous 60th birthday celebration. During her retirement Donelda continued to enjoy time with family, crafts, knitting blankets for the LLU Children’s Hospital, writing letters to friends and family, gardening, traveling in her motor home and cruising to Alaska and Hawaii. Along with these hobbies she was also now able to “see the world” – traveling internationally to Afghanistan, Australia (three times), China (twice), Dubai, Hong Kong, India and Japan.
During the last decade of Donelda’s life her health continued to deteriorate. Although her ability to travel eventually became limited her adventurous, kind-hearted and optimistic spirit remained along with her unwavering faith in God. Donelda and her family credit the diligent and conscientious care of her medical team at Loma Linda with giving them a few extra years with their beloved mother, sister, grandma, nanna, aunt and friend and they are eternally grateful for this gift.  Donelda moved back to Barstow in 2016 to live with her daughter Michelle and son-in-law Will. She passed away at home with Michelle, Michael and Will lovingly by her side and holding her hands. As the family grieves they are comforted knowing she is no longer in pain and they will one day be reunited again in heaven where the adventures will most certainly continue.