Warren David Crosby

Warren David Crosby passed away on Dec. 25, 2023, at the VA Hospital in Fargo ND. He was born on Aug. 24, 1928, in Appleton MN to Wayne and Manda (Pederson) Crosby. He was the oldest child, followed by Maurice, Maren, and Marie. He spent his youth on farms in Swift and Lac Qui Parle counties. Following the death of his father in 1941, the family moved to Appleton, MN to live with grandparents. During his school years in Appleton, Warren worked at various jobs eventually working part time in the bookkeeping department at Farmers and Merchants State Bank. He excelled in football and track and graduated from Appleton High School in 1946. After graduation, he enlisted in the Appleton National Guard and worked at the LaGrange Chevrolet Garage from 1946-1950.

Warren married Esther Bakken on November 18, 1950. His guard unit, the 47th Division, was activated in December 1950 and he was deployed to Camp Rucker, Alabama. Warren achieved the rank of tank commander and platoon Sargeant but was not sent to fight in Korea. Esther joined him later and they made their home in nearby Enterprise. He was shocked and dismayed by the Jim Crow laws that existed in the South back then. If there was one thing Warren couldn’t tolerate, it was injustice.

Warren’s daughter, Debra, was born at Camp Rucker in Dec. 1951. After his honorable discharge in Oct. 1952, the family returned to Appleton where Mary was born in 1953 and Tim was born in 1956. Warren attended barber school in St. Paul and owned a barber shop in Appleton for almost 20 years. He was an active Appleton citizen, spending time on the City Council and as a commander of the American Legion Post. He was also a member of the Appleton Golf Club and treasurer at Zion Lutheran Church. His simple pleasures included playing bridge, bowling, fishing, and spending time with lots of relatives and life-long friends. He was proud of his small town and promoted it whenever he could. However, when barbering became financially unsustainable, he left Appleton in 1971 and accepted a position as manager of the Midland Co-op Fertilizer plant in Princeton, MN. While living there, Warren established more lifetime friendships. He was also an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Warren and Esther made another move to Granite Falls, Mn in 1978 where he was the manager of the Midland Co-op (Land O’Lakes) chemical and fertilizer warehouse until his retirement in 1990. Warren continued his active community participation in Granite Falls, helping to establish a community center and a senior citizen group called the Golden Grands. One of Warren’s greatest dreams was realized when he bought a travel trailer and traveled around the country, staying in campgrounds in almost every state. Most retirement winters were spent in CA or AZ near Esther’s relatives. A most precious summer activity was the annual Crosby Camping trip where his children and grandchildren would gather at a MN state park. Warren also spent a great deal of time researching his Crosby ancestry. Wherever he traveled, he connected with other Crosbys.

Warren and Esther made their final move to Moorhead in 2016 when they moved into an Eventide Senior Living Community so they could be closer to children and grandchildren. During the first few years there, Warren especially enjoyed playing Bingo, doing sit-ups in the gym, and walking the halls for exercise. Dementia started to set in gradually, and after Esther passed away in 2020, his memory declined, and confusion increased. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease which then progressed until his death.

Warren will be greatly missed by his children, Debra Crosby Pullen, Mary Crosby Goerndt, and Tim Crosby, his 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, and his sister, Maren Barduson, as well as his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther, his parents, a sister and brother, and niece. We will cherish our memories of this kind and gentle man.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, January 14 at 1:30pm at First Congregational Church in Moorhead, MN.