Frances J. Crosson, Minneapolis
Obituary | Frances J. Crosson of Minneapolis, Kansas | Wilson Family Funeral Home
July 10, 1921 - May 14, 2021
Frances Julia Crosson of Minneapolis, Kansas died peacefully early in the morning May 14, 2021 at Minneapolis Rehabilitation Center. Frances was born July 10, 1921 on the family farm near Jamestown in Cloud County, Kansas and was the oldest child of Frank Ashley and Julia Eunice Peterson.
Frances graduated from Jamestown High School in 1938. Her mother passed away from cancer in January 1936 when Frances was a sophomore, so Frances stayed home to help care for her three younger siblings until Martha, the youngest was in school.
In 1940 she married Archie Boll Jr. from Concordia, whom she had met through 4-H. They lived in Kansas City until the end of World War II. They returned to Concordia where Archie was a partner with his brother in Bolls’ Dairy. To this union three children were born, Larry, Bruce, and Eunice. Frances was divorced in 1958 and started to work as a legal secretary with Paulsen and Buechel Attorneys in Concordia.
She met Herbert Crosson when he was purchasing some land and was in the legal offices to sign papers. They were married in January of 1960 and lived on the home farm south of Delphos.
Frances learned farming again, driving tractors, combines, trucks and helping with the cattle and hogs. They added to the farm over the years purchasing farms. Frances bought farms of her own and managed them. They lived on the farm until 1985, when their son David graduated from college and came home to farm.
They moved an old abandoned farmhouse to Minneapolis, and Frances oversaw its restoration, stripping woodwork, tearing out plaster, papering etc. Frances continued to live at home after Herb’s passing in 2001. She lived with her daughter Eunice and son-in-law Chuck for three and a half years and then returned to her home until moving to MRC in the spring of 2020.
Frances enjoyed harvest and she had made it a tradition to climb up the combine each year and help harvest with her grandsons. Due to Covid in 2020 she wasn’t able to harvest grain but the combine was brought to town and on her 99th birthday she made the climb one last time.
Over the years Frances was actively involved in the community. She was a 4-H leader for many years, judged county fairs’ sewing and style revues, served on the extension board, was involved in many groups including E.H.U., Delphos Ladies Club, Quest Club, Eastern Star, was a member of the Concordia Baptist Church and attended the First Baptist Church in Minneapolis.
She always was busy. She made bridesmaids dresses for many weddings, tuxedos for proms, and helped many people learn to sew. She had a greenhouse that she raised orchids in and made corsages for women for special occasions. Frances always kept busy, even at sporting events she would take her knitting and make blankets for her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her greatest joy in life was her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She followed their lives and always enjoyed any occasion to be with them. She had 14 grand and 20 great-grandchildren.
Frances was preceded in death by her parents Archie Boll Jr., her husband Herbert, her brother Frank Ashley Peterson Jr., her sisters Patricia Ann Hanson and Martha Jane Brummett, and granddaughter Angel Nicole Boll.
Survivors include her sons Larry Alden Boll of Galveston, Texas, Bruce Ashley Boll (Sherry) of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, and David Franklin Crosson (Melissa) of Minneapolis; her daughter Deanna Eunice Gary (and favorite son-in-law Chuck) of Salina; grandchildren Lance Boll, Lisa Spracklin, Joe Wilson, Lisa Hoats, Brandon Gary, Brian Gary, Drew Crosson, Jordan Schuette, Dylan Crosson, Jacy Busenitz, Kyler Macy, Ashlyn Arganbright, and Josh Macy; great-grandchildren Ellie and Emma Boll, Emily, Lucas, and Tanner Spracklin, Mason and Kendyl Gary, Talan, Tate, and Tayler Gary, Emme and Ainsley Crosson, Lyle James Schuette, Grady, Reagyn and Lincoln Crosson, Tenley and Adrie Busenitz, and Nash Arganbright.
Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m., Monday, May 17 where the family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Wilson Family Funeral Home, Minneapolis. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 18 at the First Baptist Church, Minneapolis and burial will follow in Highland Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church or the Saron Baptist Church near Jamestown and may be left in care of Wilson Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 166, Minneapolis, KS 67467.