Services for Alta May Bland, 96, of Vandalia, will be held at 3 p.m.
Wednesday, June 2 (today), at First Baptist Church Family Life Center in
Vandalia with Rev. Brian Lehenbauer and Rev. Bob Hoehn
officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the time of the service at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Bienhoff Funeral Home.
Mrs. Bland passed away at 4 a.m. May 27, 2021 at Tri-County Care
Center in Vandalia.
She was born May 15, 1925 in Bowling Green, the daughter of Taylor
Benjamin and Emma Elsie Eberline Pettey.
She married Robert Eugene Bland on Jan. 28, 1945 in Eolia; he
preceded her in death Nov. 27, 2020. They had celebrated their
milestone of 75 years married on Jan. 28, 2020.
Survivors include two sons, Steve (Beverly) Bland of Hannibal and Dale
(Cheryl) Bland of Camdenton; one daughter, Joy (Terry) Hoyt of Laddonia;
one sister-in-law, Patsy Clithero; seven grandchildren, eight great-
grandchildren and one future great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Charles "Bud" Pettey, one
infant brother and three sisters, Bonnie June Hammett, Helen Quinlan and
Hazel McCluskey.
Mrs. Bland was a lifetime area resident and member of Vandalia First
Baptist Church. She was a 1943 graduate of Bowling Green High School and
member of the past Eastern Star Vandalia Chapter and past matron. She
was also a member of the Susanna Randolph Daughters of the American
Revolution.
She worked as a waitress during her high school years at
Moonwink Cafe and then as a file clerk for Stark Brothers Nursery.
She and her husband Bob purchased the Vandalia Dairy Queen and operated it
for 13 years where many area youth were first employed.
She was very active in her church, working as secretary for 15 years, serving as a
Christian clown for 30 years for area churches, nursing homes and
schools. Alta taught Sunday school for 13 years. She was a 4-H leader
and assistant of the Women's Missionary Union for 40 years. She enjoyed
gardening, canning, quilting, knitting and spending time with her family.
Pallbearers will be Travis Dixon, Brent Bland, Jaron Vail, Shawn Bland,
Andrew Hendren and Cyrus Bland. Honorary pallbearers will be the church deacons.
Memorial contributions may be made to Vandalia First Baptist Church Food
Pantry in care of Bienhoff Funeral Home, PO Box 54, Vandalia, MO 63382.
Online condolences may be made at www.bienhofffuneralhome.com.
