Marian Lavon Crippen, 84, of Sioux Falls, and formerly of Huron, passed away on Friday, March 10, 2017, in Sioux Falls with her family by her side.
Her funeral services were on Tuesday afternoon, March 14, at American Lutheran Church in Huron, with interment at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation was one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.
Marian was born July 23, 1932, to Leslie and Hazel (Hart) Walton on a farm south of Bonilla. Marian enjoyed tending to the horses and helping her father drive the tractor. In 1941, the family moved to a farm south of Cavour, where Marian attended country school and graduated from Cavour High School in 1951. She attended the Northwest College of Commerce in Huron, and after graduation worked for NorthWestern Public Service.
On May 29, 1953, she married LaVern (Bud) Crippen. They made their home in Artesian, where they owned the Standard Oil bulk dealership. Marian was also a local treasurer for First Lutheran Chruch in Artesian. In 1968, they moved to Huron, where she was employed with NorthWestern Public Service for 25 years, along with helping to raise their two daughters. Following her retirement, she was able to focus on her passions of gardening, cooking and baking. Her greatest joys were spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also loved visits and phone calls with her many nieces and nephews.
Marian was a woman of faith, and family was everything to her. She was a wonderful homemaker and especially loved cooking and baking for family and friends. She belonged to the South Dakota State Local Peace Officers Auxiliary, where she held many offices throughout the years. Following the death of her husband, she moved to Sioux Falls to be close to family.
Grateful for sharing her life are two daughters, Carol (Ron) Helseth of Sioux Falls, and Cindy (Keith) Jackson of Cleveland, Tenn.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, LaVern (Bud) Crippen; one sister, Catherine Bennett; one brother, Bernard Walton; and her parents, Leslie and Hazel (Hart) Walton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Sanford Health Foundation in memory of Marian Crippen for the support of Ava’s House (Hospice) to: Sanford Health Foundation, PO Box 5039, Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5039.
Arrangements are under the care of the Welter Funeral Home in Huron.