Rita J. Crawford

Monday, July 20, 2020 8:11 pm

Rita J. Crawford, 73, of Hesper, died Sunday, July 12, 2020, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Graveside services are at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 18, at the Hesper Public Cemetery. The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements.

Rita was born Oct. 24, 1946, in Spring Grove, Minn. to Warren and Jean (Robinson) Foltz. She attended the Mabel High School. She married Ross Crawford July 20, 1963. They lived in Hesper where they raised their three sons. She had worked for 40 years at DECO in Decorah, and in retirement worked at the Meadows of Mabel Assisted Living. She was a member of the Hesper Lutheran Church where she had taught Sunday school. Rita enjoyed working in her garden, cooking, canning, sewing, doing crossword puzzles, watching birds, watching soap operas and selling Avon and Tupperware.

Rita is survived by her husband, Ross, of Hesper; three sons: Rick (Kim) Crawford of Dorchester, Rob (Amy Sanders) Crawford of Hesper and Ron Crawford of Hesper; grandchildren: Missy (Trevor) Crawford, Carrie (Stan) Colsch and Rien and Reid Crawford; great-grandchildren: Kenny, Kaelyn and Kyzer Colsch, Dakota and Zoey Dewall and Jentree Collins; two brothers, Robin (Lola) Foltz of Hesper and Rollie (Maryann) Foltz of Iowa City; a sister, Rosemary (Rick) Lane, of Burr Oak; and special niece, Poppy Zafft and her children Zariah, Zach (Lindsey) and Zeth Curran.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents; an aunt, Joyce Austin; and an uncle, Norman Foltz.