Andy Crawford Sr.

Andrew Peter Crawford Sr. of Minden, formerly of Axtell and Ansley, passed away on March 6, 2013 at the Kearney County Health Systems in Minden. Funeral services will be held on Saturday March 9, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church in Mason City, Reverend John Lewis officiating. Burial will be in the Mason City Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation will be held on Friday 10:00 AM to 8 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary in Broken Bow and Saturday morning 9:30 AM until service time at the church in Mason City. Memorials may be given to the charity of your choice. Andy was born on August 2, 1929 on the family farm west of Arcadia, to Florence (Fox) and Lewis Crawford. Andy attended rural schools in Custer County, graduating from Mason City in 1948. After graduation he taught 1 year at a rural school near Litchfield. Andy met his future bride Beverly Jane Douglas, they were married on November 28, 1950, at Broken Bow. To this union 3 sons were born, Andrew Peter Jr., Darwin Grant, and Robert Lee. Andy was drafted into the US Army in 1951 and was honorably discharged in 1954. Their oldest 2 sons were born at Columbia, SC where he was stationed. Upon his discharge, the family moved back to Custer County, where he worked at various jobs. After his retirement, the couple moved to Husker Homes in Ansley, NE. Andy’s health was failing, so the Sons moved the folks to Axtell in August of 2010. Andy entered Bethany Home in Minden, NE in October of 2010. Andy was a loving Husband and Father, and a friend to many. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Mason City, NE, he was a Gideon at one time with the Custer-Blaine Camp and did several Bible presentations. He did embroidery, collected stamps, crosswords and other hobbies. Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, Beverly of Axtell, two sons; Andy Jr. and Mary Ann of Holdrege, Darwin and Deb of Minden, six grandchildren; Angela and Duane Burkholder of Brewster, NE, Melissa and Kurtis Stone of Kansas City, KS, Tina Crawford and friend Rusty Houser of Wilcox, NE, Jessika and Chris Bartroff of Lincoln, NE, Kati Eckhardt of Minden, Jakob Eckhardt of Cheyenne, WY, 15 great grandchildren, and 1 great great granddaughter, brothers; Victor and Katherine of Broken Bow, George and Mary of York, Philip of St. Francis, KS, Jim and Gale of Pasco, WA, sisters; Eunice Shoemaker of Ansley, Sharon Hawkins of Ansley, Aunts; Dorothy and Howard Pracht of Broken Bow and Donna Crawford of Kearney. He was preceded in death by his son Robert, parents Lewis and Florence, sisters-in-law; Carolyn and Maxine, brothers-in-law; Irwin Hawkins and Ralph Shoemaker.