Lowell Crawford

Funeral services were held Thursday, April 22, 2010, at First Presbyterian Church in Towner, for Lowell “Pete” Crawford, 88, of Minot, formerly of Denbigh, who died Sunday, April 18 at ManorCare in Minot.

Burial was in Union Cemetery, Towner.

Pete was born March 29, 1922, in Lonetree, a son of Thomas W. and Bertha (Barton) Crawford. He was raised in Lonetree and attended school there until 1933, when his parents moved to Denbigh. He completed his education in Denbigh. He entered the U.S. Army on Oct. 8, 1942, and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for service in the Pacific-Asiatic Theater. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 15, 1945. Following his military service, he returned to Denbigh to ranch. He married Margaret “Sue” Brown on April 5, 1947, at her parents’ home in Denbigh. The couple made their home at Spring Lake Ranch in Denbigh. He also worked as a rural mail carrier in the Denbigh area for 28 years, retiring in 1980. He ranched throughout his life until moving to Minot in 2006.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Towner, serving as elder, deacon and Clerk of Session; a Master Mason of the Mouse River Lodge #43 of Towner, served on the election board in Denbigh Township, and was a member of the Vernon T. Starks VFW Post #7067 of Towner. He was also a Boy Scout leader and was active in the PTA.

He is survived by his wife, Sue, of Minot; five sons, Ron of Burnsville, Minn., Dennis of Minot, Tom of Elizabeth, Colo., Mike of Gilbert, Ariz., and Keith of Fargo; three daughters, Cindy Orr of Elizabeth, Colo., Diane Eaton of Avon, Ind., and Marianne Wirtz of Minot; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Tom, George, Jim, Pat, Jerry and Jack; and three sisters, Zona Craft, Frances Crawford and Bernice Larsen.

Pastor Don Andrews officiated. Music was provided by Becky Field and Renee Best, vocalists, and Elaine Hendrickson, organist.

Casketbearers were Rob Eaton, John Wirtz, Craig Orr, Todd Eaton, Jerry Bailey, and Roger Dosch.

Full military honors were accorded by the Vernon T. Starks VFW Post #7067, the Towner American Legion Post #34 Honor and Color Guard, and the ND Military Honors Detail of Minot.

Arrangements by Anderson Funeral Home, Towner.