ASTA MARGRET BLEVINS (EINARSSON)

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ASTA MARGRET BLEVINS (EINARSSON) October 3, 1915 - October 2, 2009) Peacefully, on October 2, 2009, with her family at her side. Asta will be dearly missed by her son Dirk (Eve) Blevins, her daughter Karen Blevins, grandson Colin (Susanne) Angus and great-grandchildren William, Alexander and Samuel Angus, granddaughter Susan Balcaen and great-grandchildren Isabelle and Dominic Balcaen, her daughter Leah (Jack) Springer, granddaughter Janne (Matt) Peters and great-grandchildren Emily and Ellie Peters, granddaughter Kristin (Blake) Richison and great-grandchildren Nathan, Luke and Annaleah Richison, and grandson Sean (Gloria) Springer. Asta's sisters Lauga Einarsson and Nello Reid, and brothers Harold, Rexy and David, survive her. Brothers Dori, Joe and Ray, and sister Stina Erlendson, predeceased her. Asta, the second of ten children of Mindy and Elin Einarsson, was born at the family farm at Oxara, Manitoba. She moved to Arborg at a young age and attended school until her move to Winnipeg, where she resided throughout her life. Asta married the love of her life, Ken Blevins (1914 - 1945), a Flight Lieutenant, and a pilot and flying instructor, with the RCAF during the Second World War. Asta was a very talented and creative artisan and expressed her gifts in many ways. As a young woman, she was accepted by a fashion design school in California but chose to marry and remain in Winnipeg where she designed and sewed on a professional level as well as for friends and family. Asta's artistic abilities led her to a life-long love of drawing, sketching, painting, china painting, batik and pottery making. She attended The Banff School of Fine Arts and was a member of the Forum Art Studio for many years through which she was able to have her artwork exhibited and sold. Asta inherited her love of classic literature and poetry from her father, who was a poet. She especially enjoyed the works of Tennyson, Longfellow, Frost and Shakespeare. From her mother, she inherited her abiding patience, kindness, gentleness and tolerance. A free-spirited woman, Asta followed her own path in life. She travelled throughout North America and went to Europe several times, once to visit Iceland where she spoke her long unused mother tongue with purity. Asta tried her hand at mastering the French language and enrolled in many lessons to improve her skill. She took up cross country skiing and enjoyed many a foray with friends through Assiniboine Park followed by a trip to her favourite haunt Tim Horton's. Asta completely devoted herself to her family. As the consummate cheerleader, she encouraged all the efforts of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Asta loved each one personally and they loved her deeply in return. She lived a full and rich life. The family thank the staff at Golden Links Lodge for their kind care of Asta over the last several years. A memorial service to celebrate Asta's life and honour her memory is planned for 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, at Neil Bardal Inc., 3030 Notre Dame Avenue, across from Brookside Cemetery. Flowers gratefully declined. Should anyone wish, donations can be made to the charity of your choice. NEIL BARDAL INC. (204) 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 06, 2009