Allan Crowder

MALTA — Allan J. Crowder, 88, a Korea Veteran and retired rancher, died Saturday, June 15, 2019, of natural causes.

Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at the Kirkwood Memorial Chapel in Malta. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery with Military Honors. Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.

Allan Jay Crowder Jr was born on May 2, 1931 the oldest son of Earl and Pauline Crowder. His twin brother Ervin was born a little after midnight on May 3, 1931.

Allan worked on the family farm in Sun Prairie and served his Country in the Army during the Korean War. He married Rhoda Marguerite French on May 23, 1955 and they worked side by side on the farm for years, raising nine children, Betty, Allan, Peggy, Cindy, Katie-Cathy, Jim, Crickett, and Jenny.

Allan worked for years at the Equity Co-op delivering gas, working in the shop and at the grain elevator until he was injured in an explosion. After that he and Rhoda worked side by side on the family farm raising cows, pigs, sheep and chickens. Dad was a proud member of the Sheriff’s Posse and loved setting up the rodeo arena for the Boots and Saddles rodeo for kids. He proudly rode his horse Big Red and led many 4th of July parades.

Allan is survived by children Betty (Daryl) Wagner of Billings, Mont., Peggy (Mel) Banks of Sheridan, Mont., Cindy (Chuck) Creaden of Las Vegas, Katie-Cathy (Bob) McWilliams of Helena, Mont., Jim (Becky) Crowder of Billings, Crickett-Lloyd Crowder of Malta, Mont., Clark (Amy) Crowder of Belgrade, Jenny Crowder of Malta; brothers Ervin, Bill Ben, Butch, Gary, Tom and Harold and sisters Earline and Alice. 8 Children, 14 Grand Children and 10 Great Grand Children and many, many nieces and nephews.

Allan was preceded in death by his loving wife Rhoda, his son Bud, his parents Earl and Pauline, brothers Bob and Frank and sister Rose and Great Grandparents.

Allan was a hard working kind man fondly known to everybody as AJ who loved his family and would give anybody the shirt off his back. He loved hauling cattle to market in his big Blue Truck. Allan loved taking Rhoda out for a night of dancing at the First Creek Hall. Dad went to Heaven on the evening of June 15th in time to Waltz with his special angel to the Orange Blossom Special.