HAMBLIN, Dena

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona - 07/02/2004 Dena L. Hamblin died in Durango, Colorado June 26, 2004. A former resident of Eagar, she was born Aug. 27, 1920 to Elnora Myrl and Ellis W. Lund, the second of four children. She grew up and attended school in Eagar. She married Kenneth Max Hamblin in St. Johns Oct. 25, 1941. Their first home was a little cabin on Jackson Creek. Later they bought the Hamblin homestead from Kenneth's mother (Ida Dee Hamblin). Their four children, Kenneth Max Jr., Wayne J., Patricia and Harold Ellis (Happy) were born there. When the children were old enough to go to school they moved twice a year to accommodate the children. In the fall they lived in Alpine so the children could go to school and then in the spring would move back to the farm. Dena loved feeding the trashing crew. Each year a crew of 15-20 men came to harvest their fields and haul bundles from the fields to the thrashing machine. She loved the first picnic of the year, which was always the first day of fishing season. Another favorite was the Easter picnic down on the Blue every year. Traditional eggs were hidden, some fished and they explored a cave. They sold the ranch in 1958 and moved to Mancos, Colo. where they bought a ranch down Weber Canyon. In 1963 they moved to Ignacio, Colorado. Ken and Dena lived in Ignacio until Kenneth died in 1983. Then Dena moved to live with her daughter Patricia in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They moved to Albuquerque in 1990, where Dena lived until 1995 when she had a stroke and went to Colorado to live. Dena was a very special person who loved her family and was at her best when helping people and feeling needed. She loved to quilt, embroidery, read books and spend as much time as possible with her grandchildren. A favorite pastime was fixing lunch for her grandchildren so they could take it to Elephant Rock up on the hill behind the house and have a picnic. Elephant Rock was the childrenís favorite place. They also loved to go fast down Belly Road with Grandma and Grandpa. Dena's survivors include her sister Larna Eagar, Eagar; children Kenneth Max Hamblin, Jr. Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Wayne J. Hamblin, Mancos, Colorado, and Patricia Lund, Mancos, Colorado.; her grandchildren, Leland Hamblin, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Gregory Hamblin, Well, Maine, Jeannine K. Hamblin, Grand Junction, Colorado, Brandon Rex Hamblin, Lake Havasu City, Shalania Ann Hamblin, Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Wayne J. Hamblin, Jr., Salmon, Idaho, Thomas Charles Hamblin, Fredericks, Colorado, Kevin Dale Hamblin, Portland, Oregon, Shirl Twayne Hamblin, Severance, Colorado; and 11 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Max Hamblin, Sr.; her parents, Ellis W. Lund and Elnora Myrl (Haws) Lund, son (Happy) Harold Ellis Hamblin and two brothers, Harold E. Lund and James Terry Lund. Graveside services were at the Alpine Cemetery, Thursday, July 1. Arrangements were handled by Burnham-Jewkes Mortuary, Springerville.