Sammy Lorraine (Wallace) Blender, 83, of Raritan, Illinois, passed away Friday, March 1, 2019 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois. She was born September 5, 1935 in Raritan, the daughter of Leo and Martha (Walker) Wallace. On June 20, 1954, she married James Blender in the Raritan Baptist Church.

Mrs. Blender was a 1953 graduate of Media-Wever High School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Monmouth College in 1970. She taught for twenty five years in the Burlington, Iowa school system, teaching the majority of time at Apollo and Oak Street Schools. She served as Raritan village trustee for over thirty years, and was a member of the Stronghurst Senior Citizens and the Raritan Firemen's Auxiliary. She was a lifelong member of the Raritan Baptist Church, where she served as moderator, Sunday school teacher, and in numerous other capacities. She was also a member of the King's Daughters Association of the church.

Sammy enjoyed traveling, baking pies for her family, playing dominoes, cards and games, and mowing the grass, when she was able. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, whom she loved unconditionally.

Survivors include her husband of sixty four years, one daughter, Jodi (Dave) Purlee of Mt. Carroll, IL, one son, Jay (Rhonda) Blender of Raritan, five grandchildren, Rob (Jenna) Purlee, Janel (Ryan) Bast, Kelly Purlee, Brandy (Tanner) Bigger, and Brent Blender, five great grandchildren, Carson and Kate Purlee, and Sami, Max, and Drew Bast, one sister, Ruth (Orlin) Olsen of Raritan, IL, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, one great granddaughter, Aubrey Bigger, two sisters, Wanda Denton and Babe Stull, and two brothers, LeRoy and Jolly Wallace.

Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Monday at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday March 5, 2019 in the Raritan Baptist Church, with Pastor Dan Siems officiating. Burial will be in the Raritan Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for the Raritan Baptist Church. Please visit Sammy's obituary at banksandbeals.com to sign the guest book and leave a remembrance.