Valera "Val" Marie Blair

Mass of Christian Burial for Valera “Val” Blair, 97, of Marshall, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Marshall.

Valera Marie “Val” (Buysse) Blair was born on April 8, 1927, in Marshall, to Frank and Helene (DeLange) Buysse. Val grew up in Marshall as one of nine children, and she graduated from Marshall High School in 1945. On June 21, 1948, Val was united in marriage to Eugene “Gene” Sumner Blair. The couple lived in Marshall for a time, before moving to Luverne, International Falls, and Glenwood for Gene’s job. After Gene’s death in 1978, Val lived in Glenwood for a few more years before moving to Marshall to be closer to her family.

Val was a go getter who liked to stay active. She taught religion classes and 55 Alive for many years. She was very involved with Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, including being a member of the CCW. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Val enjoyed playing golf, cards, and rolle bolle. Her greatest joy was her family. Val loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Val died on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the Prairie Home Hospice McLaughlin House in Marshall. She is survived by her children Patricia (Severin) Holte, Nancy (John) Berg, Gregory Blair, Blaise Blair, Mary (James) Bigler, Anne Blair, Stephen Blair, Rebecca (Robert) Oen, Christine (Charles) Konold, and Mark Blair; 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild; brother James “Jim” (Janet) Buysse and sister-in-law Ramona Buysse; as well as many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Gene Blair; daughter Kathleen Blair; son Michael Blair; parents Frank and Helene Buysse; brothers Raymond (Vivian) Buysse, Andrew (Delores) Buysse, and Vincent Buysse; sisters Alyce (Russell) Anderson, Julie (George) Shriver, Margaret Buysse, and Marion (Lawrence) Pask; father- and mother-in-law Clarence and Edna Blair; and brother-in-law Clarence (Audrey) Blair.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church or Prairie Home Hospice.