Henry "Lee" Blankespoor

WENTWORTH, SD: Henry “Lee” Blankespoor, 70, of Wentworth, South Dakota, formerly Inwood, Iowa, died Monday, June 13, 2022, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Funeral service will be held Friday, June 17, at 10:00 AM at Inwood Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Adam Eisenga officiating. Burial will follow at Richland Cemetery of Inwood. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Thursday, June 16 at Inwood CRC from 5:30-7:30 PM. Porter Funeral Home of Inwood is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be directed to Inwood Christian School.

   Henry Lee Blankespoor, son of John E. and Gertrude (Kempema) Blankespoor, was born February 5, 1952, at Sioux Center, Iowa. Lee lived in Rock Valley, Iowa for a short time until his family moved to Inwood, Iowa where he spent the majority of his life. On October 19, 1973, Lee was united in marriage with Judy Top. For 38 years from 1983-2021, Lee owned and operated Lee’s Repair. The last 18 years of which he enjoyed working alongside his son, Brian. Lee loved working on tractors, combines, and numerous pulling tractors over the years. Upon retirement, Lee and Judy moved to Wentworth, South Dakota.

   Lee was a selfless man who would often look for ways to help others. Even after his Leukemia diagnosis, he would often comment on how he wished he could be out helping someone. He enjoyed fishing, camping, woodworking, building tractors, and tractor pulls. He was a longtime member of the Inwood Christian Reformed Church.  

   Lee is survived by his wife, Judy Blankespoor of Wentworth; 3 children, Jeff (Erin) Blankespoor of Madison, South Dakota, Brian (Kelsey) Blankespoor of Inwood, and Tami (Alan) Kamies of Boyden, Iowa; 5 grandchildren, Corey Kamies, Davis Blankespoor, Kaylee Kamies, Lane Blankespoor, and Jett Blankespoor; 4 sisters, Shirley Kollis of Inwood, Harriet (Gene) Potoka of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Charlene (Bill) Van Veldhuizen and Nelvina (Harold) Van Voorst, both of Rock Valley; 4 brothers, Edwin (Mary) Blankespoor of Rock Valley, Dick Blankespoor of Inwood, Randy (Shonna) Blankespoor of Rock Valley, and Myron (Denise) Blankespoor of Inwood; and sister-in-law, Darla (Kevin) Vaandrager of Sheldon, Iowa.

   He was preceded in death by his parents, John E. and Gertrude Blankespoor; and brother, Curtiss Blankespoor.