Blanche Rose Burnett passed away at GoldenLiving Center-Prairie Hills on Friday, December 16, 2011, 32 days after her 103rd birthday. Blanche Rose Lapka was born to John and Blanche Lapka on November 12,1908, the second of five children. She grew up in Chicago, where she attended elementary and high school. In 1930 she married George Burnett. To this union a son, Raymond George was born. She was a "stay-at-home mom", until her son attended college. At various times in her life she owned a millinery shop, worked as a restaurant hostess, and ran a drug store and card shop. For a short time she was a singer in her husbands orchestra. However, her son was her world. Before coming to Rapid City in the early 1970's she began caring for elderly people in their homes. While in Rapid she offered assisted living to several elderly women, in her home along with her mentally challenged brother, John. Blanche, was an amateur artist and did many watercolor paintings. She always joked that her "claim to fame was that she danced with Al Capone in the early 30's while attending a dance where her husband was performing. She was very active in later life until she began having health problems in 2004 necessitating her move from independent living to GoldenLiving-Prairie Hills. The family wishes to thank the staff at GoldenLiving-Prairie Hills for their wonderful care. They treated Blanche as family. Blanche is survived by her son, Raymond, daughter-in-law, Mary, and grand children, Wendy Knipple (Jay), Brighton, CO; Frances Becker (Tim), Rapid City, SD; Raymond Burnett (Tammy), Castle Rock, Colo.; eight great-grand children and one great-great grandson. She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 brothers, one sister and her husband, George. Visitation will be from 2 until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will follow at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home, with Rev. Dwight Stensgaard officiating. Burial will be in Chicago. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established.