Lenora Blanche Bickell McMillan, 88, of Hampton, IL, passed away Saturday, February 10, 2007 at Illini Restorative Care Center, Silvis, IL. Funeral services will be 1:00 PM Tuesday at the Van Hoe Funeral Home Ltd., East Moline, IL. Burial will be in the National Cemetery, Rock Island, IL. Visitation will be 4-7 PM Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The American Lung Association or the American Diabetes Association. Blanche was the eldest daughter of seven children born to John Earl and Suzanne (Fife) Bickell. She was responsible for the care of the younger siblings at an early age. She started working outside of the home at age 14, caring for a girl her own age and then went on to other types of work. When the family moved to Kirkwood, IL, she met Dennis Eddley Newton, and they married December 31, 1939 in Fort Madison, IA. A son, Jay C. Newton, was born April 28, 1941 in Galesburg, IL. When Dennis was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was hospitalized, she worked at the ammunition plant in Middletown, Iowa to support the family. Two years later, in 1943, they were advised by the doctor to move to Phoenix, Arizona for Dennis' health. Blanche took work at an airplane factory to support the family, and was one of the many "Rosey the Rivetor's" during WWII. Dennis passed away May 29, 1947 in Arizona leaving she and her son behind. The year before Blanche was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She and her son Jay, moved back to Kirkwood in August of 1947, to be closer to family and Blanche went into the Sanatorium in Rock Island, IL. She was one of two patients chosen for a new procedure that was being done at the time in Chicago, IL. This procedure collapsed the damaged part of the lung, removing three ribs in the process. She met Virgil Francis McMillan of Rock Island just before she was released from the Sanatorium. They were married September 1, 1951 in Kirkwood. A daughter, Jeanette Louise McMillan, was born August 22, 1953. Blanche had worked all her life, working alongside her husband Virgil in the contracting business. She not only wielded a hammer but kept the books in order for the business to run smoothly. She was there when elderly family members needed help. She loved her grandchildren; loved keeping up on all that they were doing. She enjoyed working in the yard and crocheting. Survivors include; daughter and son-in-law, Jeanette and John Wright of Hampton, IL; son and daughter-in-law, Jay and Kaye Newton of Little York, IL; five grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen and Oscar Todd of Kirkwood, Wilma McIntire of Galva, IL, Phyllis and Mel of Fort Meyers, FL. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Dennis and Virgil, her parents, a granddaughter, a sister, and three brothers. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.vanhoe.com