Memorial Services for Blanche Ziska, age 88 of O'Neill, will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 28, 2023 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill with Rev. Paul Harder officiating. Private family burial will be at a later time in the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Atkinson. Visitation will be prior to the service on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until service time at Biglin's Mortuary. Blanche passed away on Monday, July 24, 2023 at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in O'Neill. Memorials are suggested to her family for future designation. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary of O'Neill.

Blanche Bartos, was born to Joseph Bartos and Antonia Swoboda Bartos on February 19, 1935, west of Verdigre, NE. She joined three brothers. The family moved south of Emmet, NE, where Blanche attended School District 152, known as the Stortz School about ten miles south of Emmet. In 1945, the family moved to Atkinson, NE. Blanche attended grade and high school in Atkinson, graduating from Atkinson High School in 1952. After graduation she moved to Valentine, NE, working at the Cherry County Superintendent's office, and later the Cherry County Clerk's office.

At a dance at the Crystal Ballroom in Atkinson, Blanche had caught the eye of a young man. He asked her to dance, and on June 27, 1953, she married her sweetheart, Marvin Ziska, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, in Atkinson, NE. Marv and Blanche made their home in Valentine until 1958, when Marv took a job at the Wayne Herald newspaper in Wayne, NE.

Marv and Blanche had three children, Beverly Joyce, Doreen Marie, and Daniel Joseph. The family moved to O'Neill, NE in 1959, when Marv took a job at the newspaper. Blanche stayed at home, caring for their children. Later, she joined Marv in working at The Frontier & Holt County Independent as a teletype setter. She retired in 1989.

In retirement, Marv and Blanche provided litter control on two miles of U.S. Highway 20 west of O'Neill, for 15 years. They also volunteered, boxing government food commodities for Seniors, for 15 years at CNCS. In Dec. 2005, they began delivering prescription medications for O'Neill Family Pharmacy. For many years, they provided transportation for individuals going to medical appointments. As a couple, they were almost always together. They enjoyed dancing, something she had enjoyed for a long time. She once won a dance contest. Blanche was active in St. Patrick's Altar Society, serving as chairman and co-chairman, and later joined the funeral committee, preparing food for funeral dinners. She enjoyed being outside, helping with lawn and garden care, fishing, family camping, cooking/baking, canning the produce from their garden, and watching birds in their backyard. More recently, she enjoyed doing Word-Search puzzles.

Blanche is survived by daughters, Beverly McConnell, of Atkinson, NE and Doreen (John) Loeffelholz of Halbur, IA; son, Dan (Marge) Ziska of O'Neill; grandchildren, Marty (Dave) Lauridsen of Columbus, NE, Rhonda (Nate) Christensen of Brandon, SD, Jeremy McConnell of Clearwater, NE, Sarah (Jackson) Medina of O'Neill, NE, Luke (Trista) Wallace of Lincoln, NE, and Katy (Brook) Rowan of O'Neill, NE; 19 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.

Blanche is preceded by her parents, Joseph and Antonia Bartos; husband, Marvin Ziska in 2021; son-in-law, Victor McConnell; great-grandson, Cameron McConnell; brothers, Joe (Beulah) Bartos, Jr., George (Opal) Bartos, and Raymond (Aletha) Bartos; her in-laws, Charles and Elsie Ziska; and nephews, David Bartos, Keith Ziska, and Gary Hazelhurst.