"A full life!" This brief phrase containing only three words is the most adequate of all words that can be used in describing the life of Mrs. Alice Blakeney. This dear lady slipped away to heaven recently at the age of 92 years after making a positive impact on affairs of Runge and the surrounding area that long will be remembered by those who knew her. None of the lengthy years that she spent on this earth ever were wasted on frivolous things. These were her professional career, her family, and her involvement in community affairs. During her formative years, Mrs. Blakeney decided she wanted to be a teacher, which was fortunate for the children whose lives she later would touch and mold. She started her teaching career first as an elementary teacher and ended it as a homemaking teacher. In between, she taught on just about every level, covering a wide variety of subjects. But regardless of the station assigned to her, the students always came out as better boys and girls for that experience. They now are settled in places all around this nation, and regardless of the communities where they finally have settled; each is a better place for they having made that decision.

In the course of her professional career, Mrs. Blakeney met and married her husband, and for many years, they operated a farm just North of Runge. While living there, they raised a lovely daughter and thoroughly enjoyed living in a rural setting. They seemed to compliment each other perfectly as each evening they sat down to discuss the events of the day in each other’s career. And when Mr. Blakeney passed away, she chose to continue living on the farm where she and her small family enjoyed so many happy days.

Finally, the day came when this lady chose to put her teaching career aside, but she did not retire. She immediately became very active in community affairs. She ran a tight schedule, which allowed for only one day to be devoted to personal matters. The rest of the time, she was involved in the affairs of her church, the Eastern Star, Retired Teachers, VFW Auxiliary, Birthday Club, and the Runge Museum, to name a few. Two disastrous fires in Runge occupied a considerable amount of time in her final years. When the Runge Museum was destroyed by fire, she was one of the driving forces that raised the money to restore this structure and make this facility available to the public once more. And at the time of her untimely death in planning for the restoration of the beautiful Methodist Church in Runge after it too was gutted by fire in recent years.

Alice Blakeney; a wonderful person! Her life should serve as a guidepost for those who want to live a life that will be pleasing in God’s life.