Jeanette Reid

Services for Jeanette Blader Reid, 85, of Mt. Vernon, New York will be held graveside at Union Cemetery on Tuesday, December 2nd at 3:45 p.m. Rev. Bill Duncan will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton: www.paetznick-garness.com

Jeanette passed away November 25, 2008 at her home in Mt. Vernon, New York.

Jeanette Eloise Blader Reid was born on January 15, 1923 in Groton, SD to Frederick Lewis and Amelia (Rugotzka) Blader. She attended school in Groton and graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 1940. Following high school, she worked for several years in Aberdeen. In April of 1943, she joined the Navy Reserves in Washington, D.C. and was later transferred to New York City, where she served as a Navy Wave. Upon discharge, Jeanette, in 1946, she joined the New York firm of Publicity Consultants, Inc., where she served as the private secretary to President Benjamin Sonnenburg. Following Mr. Sonnenberg's death in 1978, Jeanette became the personal assistant to George Weissman, Chairman of the Board of Phillip Morris, Inc. She and Mr. Weissman remained at PM until their 2001 retirement. Both she and Mr. Weissman also served as head of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Board of Directors, he as president and she as his assistant, also in New York City. On October 14, 1979, she was united in marriage with Kermit A. Reid and together they made their home in New York City. Mr. Reid died in September of 1993.

Jeanette was a member of the Groton American Legion Post #39. She loved the performing arts and attended many concerts and Broadway performances in New York. Jeanette and her husband also enjoyed attending sporting events in the New York area.

Grateful for having shared in her life is a niece, Joan (Howard) Engquist of Fairmont, Minnesota, a niece-in-law, Mary Blader of Bloomington, Minnesota, her nephews, Robert (Jo) Rod of Ames, Iowa, and Robert (Bernadine) Blader of Minnetonka, Minnesota. She also is survived by eighteen grandnieces and grandnephews and several great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.

Preceding Jeanette in death was her husband, Kermit, her parents, four sisters; Mabel Roy, Myrtle Blader, Adeline Rod and Margaret Blader, her brother, Milton Blader, and two nephews, George (Helen) Blader and Ralph Blader.

Memorials may be directed to the Groton United Methodist Church, 906 North 1st Street, Groton, SD 57445 or a charity of your choice. The family requests no flowers be sent.