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BERTINA EVELYN BLAIR

Bertina Evelyn (Dekett) (Graber) Blair, age 96, of Benton, formerly of Rose City, Mich., passed away on March 21, 2017. Bertina was born June 4, 1920, to the late, Guy and Vera DeKett in Alpena, Mich. She was a former school teacher in Michigan, where she was voted most outstanding elementary teacher of America in 1974. Bertina was a world traveler. Her most meaningful trip was to Israel, where she was baptized in the Jordan River.

Bertina is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alden Smith Graber, and husband Harry W. Blair; her children, Larry Graber, Frankie Graber, and Linda Graber.

She is survived by her son, Alden Charles (Chuck) Graber, wife Freda A. Graber from Benton Ark.; her son, Donald S. Graber from Wasilla, Alaska; her daughter, Rosalee S. Thomas from Jamestown Tenn.; her grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by three sisters, Tony Hiller, Sault St. Marie, Mich.; Gennie Hochhalter, Sandy, Utah; and Eva Anderson, Salem, Ore.

Memorial service will be at the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Benton, Ark., on Saturday March 25, 2017, at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the food pantry at the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Benton.