Frances M. Crummy

Frances Crummy, 88, of Fargo, ND, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 25, 2012 at ManorCare, Fargo.

Frances Mary Whalen was born March 4, 1924 to James and Maysie (Sinnott) Whalen in their farm home in Stephen, MN. She grew up in Stephen, MN, graduating from Stephen High School in 1942. Following high school, she attended Teacher’s School in Warren, MN, and went on to teach in a one-room school house near Stephen, MN. She also attended Bemidji State Teacher’s College where she received a teaching certificate. She taught elementary school in Austin, MN in the late 1940s.

Frances was united in marriage to Bernard Crummy on October 14, 1950 in Stephen, MN. Together they farmed and made their home in Argyle, MN, where they raised their 5 children. She was a very active member of the St. Rose of Lima Catholic parish in Argyle, singing in the choir, teaching religious education, and working at the annual bazaar, and was a firm friend of the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught at the parish school.

Her belief in education assured that all her children earned post-secondary degrees. She loved music, made sure her children had piano lessons, and enjoyed attending musical performances, especially her grandchildren’s school concerts. She passed her enjoyment of beautiful flower gardens on to her daughters. She liked to play cards and board games like Yahtzee and Boggle, with her family. She served as a leader of the Argyle Hustlers 4-H club while her children were growing up. She was devoted to researching the history of our dad’s family and her own. She enjoyed visiting historic sites and achieved a life-long dream of visiting Ireland in 1990. After she and our dad retired from farming they took advantage of their new free time to visit their children and other relatives in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Illinois, Montana, California, and Colorado.

She was a very active member of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, Catholic Daughters, and the Minnesota Republican Party. She had a deep devotion to her Catholic faith and was an inspiration to all who knew her. She spent countless hours praying at the abortion clinic even in inclement weather for the life of unborn babies. She was in charge of setting up the pro-life booth this summer at the Fargo fair until her illness prevented her from continuing. She loved staying connected to her family and friends by both letter and phone. She spent her whole life looking after others, first as the eldest daughter of a large family, then as a devoted wife and mother, and in later years as a loving grandmother. She was always ready to help in times of need.

Frances is survived by her five children, Walter (Margaret) Crummy, Highlands Ranch, CO; Bruce (Lora) Crummy, Fargo, ND; Alicia (Ron) Anderson, Hallock, MN; Ione Crummy, Missoula, MT; Melanie (Gregg) McNutt, Fargo, ND; siblings, Stephen Whalen, Great Falls, MT; Bette
Thayer, Hanford, CA; Charles (Paty) Whalen, Montgomery Village, MD; John (Ferne) Whalen, Bridger, MT; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard; parents; brothers, Mark Whalen, Philip Whalen, and Daniel Whalen; and daughter-in-law, Cindy Crummy.

Funeral Service: 10:00AM, Monday, October 29, 2012 at the Cathedral of
St. Mary, Fargo, ND.

Visitation: 4-6PM, Sunday, October 28, 2012 at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral
Home, Fargo.

Prayer Service: 5:00PM, Sunday, at the funeral home.

Burial: 3:15PM, St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Argyle, MN.