Gordon Lee Crawford was born October 15, 1935 in Mina, SD to parents Alonzo and Olga (Dahme) Crawford. He died December 12, 2009 at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 74.

Gordon graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1953 and served two years in the US Army. He attended Northern State College and graduated with a teaching and business degree in 1960. He married Darlene Ames in Aberdeen, SD on August 3, 1957. In August of 1960, the couple moved to Alcester where Gordon taught business subjects in the Alcester School system for two years. He began employment as office manager of Lincoln-Union electric in 1963, a position he held for 29 years, and was then appointed General Manager in August, 1991. Gordon retired in October of 1997.

Gordon was a member of Nathanael Lutheran Church and taught Sunday School for 11 years. Gordon enjoyed his family, young children and meeting people. He enjoyed sports and in his early years in Alcester assisted with grade school basketball for town and rural children, volunteered as a referee, coached the Teener baseball team and did umpire volunteering for many years. Gordon was a leader and very active in community organizations, holding many offices over 49 years in Lions Club, Commercial Club, Golf Club, Bowling League, and the Alcester Development Corp.

Those who gratefully shared his life include his wife of 52 years, Darlene Crawford of Alcester; two daughters: Brenda Eden and husband Rodney of Sioux Falls and Jolynne Bertram and husband Randy of Vermillion; two sons: Bryan Crawford and wife Patrice of St. Paul, MN and Steven Crawford of Sioux Falls; 8 grandchildren: Shelli (Brandon) Gust, Shane (Amanda) Eden, Collin Bertram, Reanna Bertram, David (Marianna) Crawford, Stacy Crawford, Nick Rabuse, and Zane Crawford; 3 great grandchildren: Brayden Gust, Kaysen Gust, and Ian Crawford; one brother Maurice (Ruth) Crawford of Merced, CA; two sisters: Marvel Gallipo (Joe Onge) and Norma (Kenneth) Dunker, Sioux Falls, SD; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Viola Shilman of Aberdeen, SD.

A memorial service will be held 2:00PM, Wednesday, December 16 at Nathanael Lutheran Church in Alcester. Burial of cremated remains will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Alcester. Visitation with family present will be Tuesday from 6PM to 8PM with a prayer service at 7PM at Nathanael Lutheran Church.