Frances K. Crawford

Frances K. Crawford, age 88, of Cavalier, ND died on Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND. Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, May 19, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Anthony's Catholic Church at the Pembina County Historical Site across from the Icelandic State Park, rural Cavalier, ND. Visitation on Friday, May 18th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. wake service at the Jensen-Askew Funeral Home, Cavalier, ND. Visitation at the church for one hour before the time of services. Burial in the St. Brigid of Ireland Cemetery, Cavalier, ND.
Frances K. VanSteenvoort was born February 11, 1919, in Fargo, ND to Francis "Frank" and Ethel (Greb) VanSteenvoort. She attended country school thru the 8th grade and graduated from Crary High School in 1938. Following high school she did house work at rural Crary and Cando, ND. From 1941-1942, she attended Dakota Business College, then worked at the Dakota Hotel in Grand Forks for one year. She attended nurses training at St. Michael's Hospital and graduated from St. Joseph's Nursing School in Grand Forks in 1948. After graduation she worked at the St. Michael's Hospital in Grand Forks.
On February 6, 1950, she married Wallace Franklin Crawford at Crary, ND. They lived in Cavalier for five years. Wallace Crawford passed away on August 11, 1955. She then returned to Crary, where she lived for 10 years, raising her family. She worked in the kitchen at the Crary Public School. Frances moved back to Cavalier and returned to nursing in August of 1964, at the Pembina County Memorial Hospital. She retired from nursing on July 30, 1989.
Frances enjoyed baking "especially making bread", gardening, needle work, sewing, and was an avid reader. She especially loved being around her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Robert and Richard Crawford, both of Mahnomen, MN; Charlotte Crawford, Walhalla, ND; Joanne (Roy) Otto and Janet (Doug) Stegman all of Cavalier, ND; Carol Praska, Grafton, ND; Eugene (Prima) Crawford, Las Vegas, NV; 11 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; brothers, Stanley (Bernice) VanSteenvoort, Alva, OK; George (Marie) VanSteenvoort, Crary, ND; and Jack VanSteenvoort, Whitetail, MT.
Frances was also preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, and one sister.
Celebrant: Rev. Fr. Jason Lefor.
Casket Bearers: Aaron Crawford, John Crawford, Tracey Crawford, Chad Otto, Daren Otto, Jeremy Praska, Shawn Praska, Brian Stegman, and Ian Stegman.
Music: Ann Kraft, Soloist and Larry Collins, Organist.