Obituary of Erika Henrietta Blank (nee Krüger)

Erika Henrietta Blank (nee Krüger) passed away peacefully on September 1, 2021, at the age of 93 years. Erika was the loving wife for 65 years of Hans Georg Blank (George).

Erika was born on December 6, 1927 in Riga, Latvia. She was the second of three children born to Rudolf & Marie Krüger. In 1952 she made her way across the East German border into West Germany and shortly thereafter emigrated to Canada.  She eventually settled in Coaldale, Alberta area where she met and married George. They moved from Coaldale to Medicine Hat, Calgary, New Jersey then settling in the Seba Beach, Alberta area where she and George shared a family farm.  Work eventually took Erika and George to Edmonton where she was employed at the Royal Alexandra and Misericordia hospitals. On her retirement, she and George moved to an acreage west of Stony Plain, Alberta where she could continue her love of gardening on a grander scale.

The joy of gardening that was shared by both she and George throughout their lives eventually brought them to their retirement property in Erickson, British Columbia in 1995.

Erika was predeceased by her parents Rudolf and Marie Krüger, her older brother Arnold and her son-in-laws Nunce “Butch” Costa Jr. and Joseph Klein.

She leaves behind to mourn, daughter Mary-Louise of New Jersey, sons Werner (Lois) of Medicine Hat, AB, Peter (Bonnie) of Tsawwassen, BC. She is also survived by her younger brother Elmar Krüger (Erika Krüger) of Sandy, Oregon.  Grandchild Joseph Klein Jr. (Jennifer) and great grandchildren Chase, Summer and Logan; grandchild Michelle (John) Mortelliti (nee Costa), great grandchild Kirsten (Kyle) Ambrozaitis (nee Mortelliti), great great grandchildren Karson and Karter; great grandchild Justin Mortelliti as well as many nieces and nephews and their families also mourn the loss of their Tante Erika. 

Erika’s family would like to thank the great staff at Crest View Village, Swan Valley Lodge and Creston Hospital for their compassionate care of her and George.

A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to make a memorial contribution may do so to the charity of your choice.

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