Jimmy Crowson

Jimmy Dale Crowson

Jan. 10, 1935 – July 21, 2022

CONCORD, Minn. – Jimmy Dale Crowson, 87, of Concord, Minn., died peacefully in his sleep on July 21, 2022.

He was born Jan. 10, 1935 to John Delbert and Violet (Davidson) Crowson in Sumner Township, Fillmore County, Minn., west of Chatfield. The family farmed in Fillmore, Olmsted, and Wabasha Counties and he attended several country schools there.

Jim served in the United States Navy from 1956-1957 and was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Rooks during the Suez Crisis. His ship was in the Mediterranean Sea to help protect and keep the Suez Canal open.

He met Janice Ilene Moechnig in Millville and the two were married on Feb. 26, 1957 in Newport, R.I.

After the Navy, Jim and Jan moved to Rochester and then to Independence, Ore., in April 1958. His son Brian was born Aug. 23, 1958 and his son James was born Feb. 29, 1964. Jim worked for Mountain Fir Lumber Company and Jan worked for a local supermarket.

They moved back to Mizpah, Minn., in August 1971 where Jim and Jan bought a farm. He also worked for the Page and Hill Lumber Company. Jim and Jan moved to Millville in 1977 when they bought a grocery store, which they owned for 10 years. After the grocery store, Jim worked in construction and at Lakeside Foods in Plainview until he retired in 2002.

Upon retirement, Jim and Jan sold their home in Millville and wintered in the Yuma Foothills, Ariz., with their beloved dachshund Jesse for 10 years. There they made a countless number of friends and rekindled friendships with people they knew from Oregon and northern Minnesota.

Jim was an avid hunter and fisherman, he loved horses, enjoyed gardening, woodworking, reading Westerns, watching old Western movies and TV shows, and listening to his records.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jan; sons Brian Crowson, of Apple Valley, and Jim (Shelly) Crowson of Concord; grandchildren, Adam (Megan) Crowson of Mazomanie, Wis., Adrienne Crowson of Bothell, Wash., Thomas Crowson (Steph Meacham) of Red Wing, Minn; and Jack (Ashley) Crowson of Kasson; six step-grandchildren, Kayley Eye (Walter Karlins) of Fargo, N.D., William Eye (Jessica Waletzki) of Stewartville, Brandon (Julie) Devine, Apple Valley, Aaron Devine of Rochester, Katelyn (Andrew Betlach) Devine of Eden Prairie, and Sean (Sage) Devine, Minneapolis; three great-grandchildren, Charles and Lucy Crowson and Sloane McNatt; brothers Ross Crowson of Alton, Ill., Alan Crowson, of Elgin, Ore., and Gary Crowson of Omak, Wash.; sisters Ida Stremcha of Sun Prairie, Wis., and Brenda Adler of Loretta, Wis.; several brother- and sister-in-laws; and 35 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Arnold, Roy, Burt, and Gordy; and brother- and sister-in-law.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Aug. 20 from 2-5pm in Millville, MN at the Legion. Jim’s cremains will be interred at the Millville Cemetery in a private family ceremony at a later date.

Memories and condolences of Jimmy may be shared at rochestercremationservicesmn.com