Dennis Blomquist

Dennis R. Blomquist, age 69, of Mankato, died Thursday morning, August 11, 2005 at Immanuel-St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato of Mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 2:30 p.m. Monday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mankato with Rev. John Kunz officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour prior to the service at church on Monday.

Dennis was born September 13, 1935 in Hanska to Algot & Evelyn (Ouren) Blomquist. He graduated from Hanska High School in 1953. He served in United States Army from 1955-1957. On June 14, 1958, he married Alice Dittrich at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Ulm. Dennis graduated in 1960 from Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education, received Master of Science Degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1964. From 1960-1971, he was a teacher and Guidance Director/Counselor in the St. James Public Schools. From 1971 until retirement in 1993 was Guidance Director/Counselor in the Mankato Public Schools.

Dennis belonged to the Minnesota Education Association/National Education Association Retired, Minnesota School Counselors Association, Eagle Lake American Legion, Ducks Unlimited, Minnesota Deer Hunter's Association, United States Golf Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and University of Mississippi "M" Club. He was very active in baseball from 1950-1968 and was a pitcher on the University of Mississippi Baseball Team from 1957-1960. He was an avid golfer and hunter and interested in all athletics. He had a terrific sense of humor and loved being a Grandpa.

Survivors include his wife, Alice, Mankato; three daughters, Jodie Blomquist, Mankato, Lori and husband, Dennis Runck, Jr., Mahtomedi, MN, Ann and husband, John Sorenson, Woodbury, MN; three grandchildren, Danielle Runck, Tyler Sorenson, Nicholas Sorenson; four sisters, Arline and husband Virgil Schmiesing, Hanska, MN, Muriel Frederickson, Hanska, MN, Rose Marie Hanson, New Ulm, MN, Rebecca and husband, Allen Johnson, South Sioux City, Neb; four brothers, Algot Blomquist, Jr., and wife, Bonita, Hanska, MN, Richard Blomquist and wife, Yvonne, Hanska, MN, Warren Blomquist and wife, Yvonne, New Ulm, MN, Maurice Blomquist, New Ulm, MN; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Preceded in death by parents and grandson, Jack Runck.