Joseph "Mike" Blankenship, 71, of Gardnerville died Jan. 4, 2011, in Reno. He was born April 4, 1939, in Iaeger, W.V. He was preceded in death by his brother, Bill Blankenship. He is survived by his wife, Carol Blankenship of Gardnerville; children Alan Blankenship of Hastings, Minn., Teresa Poitras of Richmond, Va., and Julie Ornellas of Gardnerville; brothers Ernest Blankenship of Richlands, Va., Don Blankenship of Davy, W.V., Larry Blankenship of Bradshaw, W.V., Carl Blankenship of Nova, Ohio, and Leroy Blankenship of Avondale, W.V.; sister Helen Nerger of Pahrump; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Walton's Funerals & Cremations, 1521 Church St., Gardnerville.