1/19/27 - 2/25/12

Born to Margaret and James Cameron in Seattle, Washington, Blanche, affectionately known as "Cookie", passed away peacefully in the Cascade Valley area of Moses Lake, at the age of 85 from natural causes.

Blanche was well known for her intense Scottish independence throughout her life, refusing to be a burden to anyone, even any state programs. She managed with as little outside help as possible, always maintaining her desire not to burden anyone and doing without if she couldn't pay for it.

At the age of 12, her father died and left her mother unable to care for her and her 5 sisters. At the age of 14, Blanche quit the one thing that she loved, school, to go to work to support the family, after watching Christmas unfold one year without any heat in the home and no presents under the tree for her younger siblings. At the age of 19, she met and married Bill Kinghammer Sr. while working as a welder at the Bremerton shipyards during war time. They bought a 40 acre dairy in Enumclaw, where she hand milked cows morning and evening and started their family. From there, they moved to Kent after husband Bill was injured on the job and built a home. In 1962, her husband died, leaving her to raise their 4 children by herself. Then, after her oldest son was killed in Vietnam, she sought a fresh start and moved her family to Chelan to live and care for a family of 7 children on an apple orchard. From there she moved to Maple Valley, always seeking a better life for her and her children. She became a Kent school bus driver so she could be home with her children during the summer months. During the Cedar River flood in Maple Valley in the '70s, she baked nearly 50 pies for the flood victims and slipped them through the back door of the Grange Hall, of which she never sought any recognition.

In later years, she worked for RIADA Staffing Options in Maple Valley, where she met many people in the valley seeking employment opportunities. After that, she moved to Moses Lake at the age of 75, where she loved to garden, always organically, and planted 19 fruit trees on her property. She lived out her years spending time in her garden and helping her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in any ways possible for her. Despite the heart aches of her life, Blanche always maintained a cheerful attitude focusing on giving much more than ever getting. She loved the Lord with all her heart and soul and never deviated from that love. Her kindness and generosity will always be remembered.

Preceded in her passing is husband Bill Kinghammer Sr., son Stephen, killed in action in Vietnam, and daughter Carolyn (Cindy) Wilkinson of Cle Elum. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Survivors include daughter, Gail Adair (Steve) of Maple Valley/Moses Lake; son, Bill Kinghammer, Jr. of Kent; 3 grandchildren, Erin Lance (Curtis) of Moses Lake, Brittany Dickey (Dave DeRohan) of Maple Valley, and Carl Wilkinson (Desiree Bradshaw) of Renton and 4 great-grandchildren. Step-grandchildren who were also very much a part of her life here included Chris Adair (Mary Ann) of Loma Linda, CA, and Jessica Adair (Tim Grant) of Maple Valley Washington. Services to be held March 9 at 11:00 am at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Maple Valley, Washington with a reception immediately following. She will be privately interned at Mountainview Cemetery in Auburn Washington.