MIKAYLA A. was born in Powell, Wyoming to Ann and Roger Olgaard, a tiny baby who remained petite throughout her short life. Mikayla was a precocious and vibrate child who displayed a sense of innocent mischief. Her childhood collection interests revolved around Dam dolls (those fury headed plastic trolls) and "Garbage Pail Kids". She maintained a well-stocked kit of tools to emulate Harriet the Spy and never was a Christmas gift a surprise. At a young age she lost her father, Roger, in a tragic accident and moved to Rapid City, SD with her mother. In Rapid City she found a second father in Doug Blankenship. As she matured she developed a love of the outdoors and despite her diminutive size she was game for anything. She graduated from Stevens High School in Rapid City, SD and began university studies at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. A longing of warmer climes and the topography of the Rockies, she transferred to the University of Colorado, Boulder where she received a degree in mathematics. She spent several years working for Penn Schoen Berland and continued her studies at the University of Denver receiving an MBA in 2008. A childhood passion for jewelry eventually blossomed with the development of a jewelry line through her company Continuum, an effort encouraged and championed by her partner, Keith Clasen. Mikayla is survived by mother Ann Blankenship, father Douglas Blankenship and brother Nolan Blankenship. She also leaves behind her fraternal grandmother, Sonora Olgaard; grandparents, Nolan (Sam) and Garnet Blankenship; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Memorial services were held August 15th in Denver, CO at the Evans Chapel on the Campus of the University of Denver. A celebration of life for Mikayla will be held at a later date in Rapid City, SD.
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