ST. JOHN — Norma June Blakeslee, age 97, formerly of St. John, passed away on Feb. 27, 2026 at South Wind Home, Pratt, Kan. Norma was born on July 4, 1928 in rural Seward, Kan., to Herman Anton and Emma Anna (Fischer) Hullman. She was confirmed at Peace Evangelical Reformed Church.
Norma received a teaching certificate from Emporia State Teacher’s College, and taught at Clarksburg, Silver Bell, and German Valley one-room school houses, before becoming a farmer’s wife.
On Aug. 6, 1950, she married Charles E. Blakeslee at Peace Evangelical Church (now Peace church) in rural Hudson, Kan. Charles and Norma celebrated 66 years of marriage before his passing on Aug. 8, 2016.
Norma was a member of Peace Church since birth, then later Trinity Community Church. She was a church pianist at both churches since high school. She also directed the children’s choir at Peace Church. Norma played piano and accordion well into her 90s, favoring a polka beat in most songs.
She belonged to Peace Women’s Guild, EHU, and several longtime pitch clubs, most recently the Senior Citizens group at Hudson.
Norma is survived by her daughters, Charla Bornholdt (Gary), Emily Arpin (Sid), both of Hutchinson, Kan.; her son, Kerwin Blakeslee of Ellinwood, Kan.; grandchildren, Jarrod Bornholdt (Monica), Hutchinson, Kan., John Bornholdt (Danielle), Hutchinson, Kan., Richard Blakeslee (Kristy), St. John, Kan., Dustin Blakeslee (Jessie) Pratt, Kan., Heather Harrison (Paul), Walkerton, Ind., Hilary Arpin (Tony Johnson), Wichita, Kan., Elliot Arpin (Claire Mullender), Dunnellon, Fla., James Arpin (Shelby), Mission, Kan; 11 great grandchildren; and 14 great-great grandchildren; her sister-in-laws, LuAnn Hullman, Olathe, Kan., Juanita Fischer, Stafford, Kan., and Helen Boyd, Wichita, Kan.; numerous nieces and nephews; three cousins; and a special friend Norma Fischer. She was preceded in death by her husband Charlie; her brothers, Loren Hullman (Betty), and Don Hullman; her sister Romain Barrow (Bob); and her brother-in-laws, Lawrence Fischer, Gene Boyd, Victor Blakeslee, and George Blakeslee (Lynette).
Memorial Service will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the Trinity Community Church, Hudson, Kan., with Pastor Wade Russell presiding. Private family inurnment in the Fairview Park Cemetery, St. John. Visitation will be on Friday from 1-6 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Trinity Community Church, Stafford Co. Hospital, or Gentiva Hospice all in care of Minnis Chapel, P.O. Box 34, St. John, KS 67576.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Minnis Chapel
P.O. Box 34
St. John, KS 67576
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 3, 2026
