Visitation: Visitation will be Wednesday from 2 to 8:00 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, with family present from 6 to 8:00 p.m.
Service: His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 7, at Canton Lutheran Church, with burial at Eden Cemetery near Hudson, SD. Lunch and fellowship will be at the Hudson Community Center following the burial.
Cecil Everett Crawford, age 93, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at the Hudson Care and Rehabilitation Center in Hudson, SD following a five month illness. His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 7, at Canton Lutheran Church, with burial at Eden Cemetery near Hudson, SD. Lunch and fellowship will be at the Hudson Community Center following the burial. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2 to 8:00 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, with family present from 6 to 8:00 p.m.
Cecil was born on a farm near Fairview, SD on August 9, 1921 to Clifford and Maggie (Fossum) Crawford. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Lands Lutheran Church near Hudson, SD. He attended Moe school and later Canton High School.
Cecil was inducted into the U.S. Army on September 26, 1942 and served in Panama and the European theater under Patton’s Third Army, 89th Infantry Division during World War II. There he saw action in the Battle of Rhineland and was present when his Division liberated the Buchenwald Concentration Camp near Ohrdruf, Germany in April of 1945. He was honorably discharged on December 10, 1945.
On January 24, 1947 Cecil married Norma Kittelson and was employed at John Morrell in Sioux Falls and the Canton Greenhouse before he began farming in 1953. He farmed near Parker, SD until 1960 at which time he and his family moved to a farm near Hudson where he continued to farm until 1999. Cecil and Norma moved to Canton in 1987.
A life member of the Canton VFW, and the Hudson American Legion, Cecil was a past active member of Grace Lutheran Church at Parker and Hudson Lutheran Church. He was currently a member of Canton Lutheran Church.
Cecil was preceded in death by his father and mother, and a sister, Delores. He is survived by his loving wife Norma, and four children: Ronald (Julie) Crawford, Fenton, MO; David (Trudy) Crawford, Spearfish, SD; Karen (Robert) Evanson, Hudson, SD; James (Janet) Crawford, Waterloo, IL; two brothers, Donald (Carol) Crawford, Canton, SD; Kip (Julie) Crawford, Canton, SD; 10 grandchildren: Maggie and Vince; Matthew and Rachel; Jennifer, Laurie and Judson; Megan, Kristin and Erica; and seven great-grandchildren.
Thoughts and prayers for the Crawford families. Our hearts go out to you all at this difficult time.
We are sorry to hear of this. Take time now to spend precious moments with those around you who have those same unique memories of his great life.
May our Lords blessings be with your family at this time of need.
We are so sorry to hear of your loss of Jim’s father. Please accept our sympathy at this difficult time. May memories comfort you.
No one can prepare you for a loss; it comes like a swift wind.
But take comfort in knowing that he is now resting.
He has the hope found in God’s word in 1 Corinthians 15:26.
My deepest condolences to you and your family.
I’m thinking of you and praying for you!
Greetings from Germany.
So sorry for your loss. Your dad lived a good long life and you have so many memories to cherish and hold dear. We’re thinking of you all and praying God gives you strength to face new days ahead inspired by the life of your wonderful, loving father.
Sorry for your loss. Cecil was a very good Christian. I never saw him without a smile and he had many friends.
from Romans 8
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? … I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So sorry for your loss. Cecil was a gentle man who helped raise a great family.