Leo Crownhart
February 8, 2010
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Leo Crownhart, 86, of Sioux Falls, formerly of St. Lawrence, died Tuesday, February 8th at the Royal C. Johnson Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 13th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Miller with Pastor Bob Ohnstad officiating. Burial will be at the G.A.R. Cemetery.
Leo Crownhart was born July 28, 1923 at Ellsworth, Wisconsin to Flora (Leonard) and Russell Crownhart. He graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1941 and especially enjoyed attending his class reunions. After hitch-hiking to the west coast, he returned to Wisconsin and joined the CCC before enlisting in the Navy in 1943. He served in the Pacific Theater in WWII. After the war, he sold dynamite, and later became an electrician. In 1946, he came with a wiring crew to South Dakota. He worked for Ed Parson. At this time, he met Gladys Stubsten. She was working at St. Marys Hospital in Pierre and while on vacation was filling in at Dr. Pangburns office at Miller when Leo came in to have his heart checked. Leo drove his Harley back and forth to Pierre while dating Gladys. On January 30, 1949, they were married at Trinity Lutheran Church and started married life in the apartments above Hand County State Bank.
The Rural Electric Administration was just bringing electricity to rural Hand County. So after years of working for Ed Parson, Leo was hired by the Ree Electric Cooperative. He loved his job, getting to know the farmers in Hand and Hyde Counties, and the great crew of men that worked at Ree Electric. Leo retired in 1981 after 28 years of service.
The Crownharts lived in Miller until 1955 when they purchased their home in St. Lawrence in which they lived 47 years. He was a volunteer of the St. Lawrence Fire Department and member of the St. Lawrence School Board. He volunteered with 4-H and the Central Speedway in Miller. He was also a member of the VFW and Trinity Lutheran Church. Leo was an avid car lover and enjoyed following the stock car races in Huron, Miller and Pierre.
Leo and Gladys moved to Sioux Falls in July, 2002 and became the first residents of the new Meadowstone Apartments at Good Samaritan Village. Gladys passed away December 1, 2003. Leo enjoyed his volunteer positions at Meadowstone as social director, general handyman, church usher and greeter, Bible study attendee and especially loved singing.
Survivors include one son, George (Michelle) Crownhart of Le Mesa, CA; two daughters, Catherine (John) Moneke of Sioux Falls, SD and Patricia (Dr. Keith) Little of Williamsburg, VA; eight grandchildren, Alexandra and Mary Crownhart of Le Mesa, Charles Moneke of Alamogordo, NM, Chris (Kira) Moneke, Ruth Moneke, Paul Moneke all of Sioux Falls, Amanda (Matthew) Maust of Richmond, VA, Patrick (Natalie) Little of Champlin, MN; one great-grandchild, Josephine Moneke; and one brother-in-law Perry Larson of River Falls, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and sister Joyce Larson.
Memorials may be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 707 East 1st Ave, Miller, SD 57362-1101.
Leo Crownhart was born July 28, 1923 at Ellsworth, Wisconsin to Flora (Leonard) and Russell Crownhart. He graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1941 and especially enjoyed attending his class reunions. After hitch-hiking to the west coast, he returned to Wisconsin and joined the CCC before enlisting in the Navy in 1943. He served in the Pacific Theater in WWII. After the war, he sold dynamite, and later became an electrician. In 1946, he came with a wiring crew to South Dakota. He worked for Ed Parson. At this time, he met Gladys Stubsten. She was working at St. Marys Hospital in Pierre and while on vacation was filling in at Dr. Pangburns office at Miller when Leo came in to have his heart checked. Leo drove his Harley back and forth to Pierre while dating Gladys. On January 30, 1949, they were married at Trinity Lutheran Church and started married life in the apartments above Hand County State Bank.
The Rural Electric Administration was just bringing electricity to rural Hand County. So after years of working for Ed Parson, Leo was hired by the Ree Electric Cooperative. He loved his job, getting to know the farmers in Hand and Hyde Counties, and the great crew of men that worked at Ree Electric. Leo retired in 1981 after 28 years of service.
The Crownharts lived in Miller until 1955 when they purchased their home in St. Lawrence in which they lived 47 years. He was a volunteer of the St. Lawrence Fire Department and member of the St. Lawrence School Board. He volunteered with 4-H and the Central Speedway in Miller. He was also a member of the VFW and Trinity Lutheran Church. Leo was an avid car lover and enjoyed following the stock car races in Huron, Miller and Pierre.
Leo and Gladys moved to Sioux Falls in July, 2002 and became the first residents of the new Meadowstone Apartments at Good Samaritan Village. Gladys passed away December 1, 2003. Leo enjoyed his volunteer positions at Meadowstone as social director, general handyman, church usher and greeter, Bible study attendee and especially loved singing.
Survivors include one son, George (Michelle) Crownhart of Le Mesa, CA; two daughters, Catherine (John) Moneke of Sioux Falls, SD and Patricia (Dr. Keith) Little of Williamsburg, VA; eight grandchildren, Alexandra and Mary Crownhart of Le Mesa, Charles Moneke of Alamogordo, NM, Chris (Kira) Moneke, Ruth Moneke, Paul Moneke all of Sioux Falls, Amanda (Matthew) Maust of Richmond, VA, Patrick (Natalie) Little of Champlin, MN; one great-grandchild, Josephine Moneke; and one brother-in-law Perry Larson of River Falls, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and sister Joyce Larson.
Memorials may be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 707 East 1st Ave, Miller, SD 57362-1101.
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