Willis F. Crow

Willis Crow age 80 of Garvin, MN passed away on Monday, May 6, 2013 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Memorial services will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at American Lutheran Church in Windom, MN. Visitation will be held from 5-8 pm on Wednesday May 8, 2013 at the Skylight Court in the American Lutheran Church in Windom. Visitation will continue one hour prior to service at the church on Thursday. Online condolences may be placed at www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com. The Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association of Echo and Wabasso are handling the arrangements for the family Willis F Crow was born on April 17, 1933 to William Crow and Lillian (Jeffers) Crow in Akron, Iowa. He graduated from high school in Akron Iowa, and started his teaching career in a one room county school house. He later taught in Inwood, Iowa and Windom, Minnesota. He worked for the State of Minnesota Department of Education and he ended his career back in the classroom in Slayton, MN teaching with the special education students he loved. Willis was married in 1954 to Patricia Larson. That marriage was blessed with five children and was later dissolved. Willis had many gifts and talents including singing, crocheting, baking, quilting, and playing piano. He enjoyed going to concerts and old-time dances and especially loved watching the PBS TV show "fun time polka" which he proudly sponsored for many years. He participated in many community plays and he sang in the barbershop chorus. He was given the first Windom's Teacher of the Year Award. He was active in Jaycees, and the Cottonwood County Association for special needs children. Willis is a current member of the Lake Sarah Lutheran Church in Garvin where he still played piano and led the chorus. He was very active in the quilting Guild, making quilts for many charities including the VA Home, the Boys Ranch and the Indian school in Chamberlain. On Monday, May 6, 2013, Willis passed away at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD surrounded by his family. Willis is survived by his children; Gregory (Lori) Crow of Windom, Eric (Leah) Crow of Walker, Jean (Ken) Fast of Windom, daughter-in-law, Pat Crow of Windom, Ann (John) Hovdenes of Rapid City, SD, and foster daughter Amy Jo Larson of 39 years; his brother, Jerry Crow of Sioux City, Iowa, his sister, Mert (Ron) Marsh of south Sioux City, Nebraska, and special friend, Marlene Hartson of Tyler; 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Frank Crow, Jack Crow, and Jim Crow, 2 sisters, Delores Meske and Betty Rzadecki, and 1 son, Bradley Crow.