Obituary of Robert Blackburn

Robert "Ed" Blackburn was born in Stone, Kentucky to Andrew and Noleeka Blackburn on September 17, 1938. He graduated from Belfry High School, Belfry, Kentucky in 1957. After high school, he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to seek employment. He met his wife, Doreen Swenson, of forty-nine years and ten months in St. Paul, Minnesota. The couple resided in Minnesota for many years; then moved to Vermillion, South Dakota in 1983. Ed built many homes in the Vermillion area while owning his own construction business. During the last few years, the couple has resided in Oregon and California with their son and family, and also made frequent visits to Atlanta, Georgia to be with their daughter and family. Ed is lovingly remembered by his wife Doreen Blackburn, his son Michael Blackburn (Kristine) of Loomis, California and daughter Beth Carrington (Lamont) of Fayetteville, Georgia; five grandsons, Tysen and Trent Carrington, and Daniel, Simon and Nathan Blackburn, sister Ruth Maynard (Ferrell) of Grundy, Virginia; brothers Burl Blackburn (Ruth) of Charleston, West Virginia, Joe Blackburn (Nancy) of Hardy, Kentucky, Charles Blackburn (Mary Jane) of Shiloam Springs, Arkansas and many other beloved family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, brother Gerald Blackburn (JoAnn) of Riverside, California, brother Ernest Blackburn (Joyce) of Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania, and sister Madalyn Crandall (Richard) of Circle Pines, Minnesota.