Gertrude Crown

Gertrude Crown, age 100 of Wilmot, SD died February 20, 2017, at the Wilmot Care Center.

Funeral services will be Monday, February 27, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyerian Church in Wilmot. Rev. Dr. DeVern Schwenn will officiate. Burial will be in the Wilmot Cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday at Mundwiler Faith Chapel in Wilmot from 4-6 p.m. and continue on Monday morning, one hour prior to the service at First Presbyterian Church.

Gertrude Emma Crown, 100, of Wilmot, went to be with our Lord in heaven on February 20, 2017. There, she was reunited with her parents, Hubert and Ella (Bruesch) Smith; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Glenn and Bernice Smith, Verne and LaVonne Smith and Lloyd and Mildred Smith; her sister-in-law, Doris (Charles) Smith; and her beloved husband, Willie. She was the most precious jewel in our family Crown, and we praise God for every day of her beautiful life.

Gertrude was born June 19, 1916, at home on the family farm outside of Wilmot, SD, delivered by her grandmother, Emma Smith, because the doctor didn’t arrive in time. She attended a rural school at Lee Township #1 and graduated from Wilmot High School in 1934. Gertrude entered nurses training at the Rochester State Hospital in Rochester, MN, trained at Anchor Hospital and Gillette’s in St. Paul, MN, and graduated from nursing school in 1938.

She eloped with Hubert William “Willie” Crown to Winona, MN, on January 3, 1940, and they celebrated more than 60 wedding anniversaries together. Gertrude and Willie lived in Rochester, MN, where they raised their four children. After Willie’s retirement, they built a cabin at Hiawatha Beach on Big Stone Lake in 1973. They spent summers at the cabin and winters in Mission, TX, where they enjoyed buffets at Luby’s, playing cards, listening to live music and spinning out on the dance floor.

Gertrude especially loved gatherings at the lake with family and friends. It was there we held her 100th birthday celebration in June of 2016, which all of her children, grandchildren and most of her great-grandchildren attended.

Gertrude lived independently until the last few years of her life. She moved to the Wilmot Care Center in October 2014 and enjoyed the activities and wonderful staff. The family is deeply thankful for the loving care she received there.

She is survived by her children, Richard (Mary Jo) Crown of Bloomington, MN; Glenn Crown of Minneapolis, MN; Steven Crown of Bloomington, MN; and Vicki (Curtis) Raabe of Bloomington, MN. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, her brother Charles Smith and many other relatives and friends.

Memorials preferred to the Wilmot Care Center or First Presbyterian Church, Wilmot.