Minerd.com Biography of Orga Homer and Lola Rebecca (Minard) Crawford of Clarinda, IA

Lola Rebecca (Minard) Crawford
(1906-2001)

On Feb. 25, 1922, at the age of 16, Lola married 23-year-old Orga "Homer" Crawford (June 1899-1969). The ceremony was performed by justice of the peace A.C. Trapp, and their wedding attendants were Mr. and Mrs. Roy Graham.

Lola and Homer produced a family of seven children. Among them were Leonard Crawford, Robert Crawford, Donald Crawford, Iris Carmichael, Doris Renfro Cates, Barbara Ellen Wilson and Keith Crawford.

When the federal census enumeration of 1930 was made, the Crawfords already had four children in eight years and were living in Douglas, Page County, IA. That year, Homer earned a living as a hired manager of a farm.

Then during the first half of the decade of the 1930s, under the grip of the Great Depression, the Crawfords moved into the Page County seat town of Clarinda, Nodaway Township. Clarinda is well known as the birthplace of famed big band leader Glenn Miller ("Moonlight Serenade") who was just two years older than Lola.

Above: Crawford kids circa 1942: Leonard ( age 19), Robert 17, Donald 15, Iris 13, Doris 11, Barbara 9, Keith 5. Below: Homer and Lola at a quiet Colorado lake.

U.S. Census records for 1940 show Homer working for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) driving a truck during the construction of a county bridge. The WPA was one of the ways President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the federal government tried to overcome widespread unemployment during that era. The initiative is widely considered one of the Roosevelt's largest and most ambitious undertakings of his "New Deal" to get the nation back on sound economic footing. Over the years, the WPA hired millions of out-of-work individuals to build public works projects, such as roads, bridges, retaining walls and buildings.

Lola and Homer's longtime and beloved home was located at 404 East Lincoln in Clarinda. The structure is still standing today.

Lola outlived her husband by more than three decades. As a widow, she moved into a mobile home in Bedford, Taylor County, IA.

Sadly, she endured the death of her daughter Barbara at the age of 65 on Nov. 16, 1998.

At the age of 95, the day after Christmas 2001, Lola was carried away by the Angel of Death. She is buried in Old Memory Cemetery.

Son Leonard Crawford (1923-2014) was born on May 21, 1923 near Hawleyville, Page County, IA.

In 1940, as a 16-year-old, Leonard and his brother Robert delivered newspapers in Clarinda to help the family make ends meet.

At the age of 20, on Dec. 17, 1943, he was united in marriage with 16-year-old Eleanor Louise Bordner (Dec. 12, 1926-2005), daughter of Harry Homer and Mattie (Wilson) Bordner.

The couple is believed to have borne two offspring -- Lynn Ellen Pattee and Steven Craig Crawford.

He received his bachelor's degree from Simpson College and his master of arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He went on to a 44-year career as an educator. He taught for 18 years and then for the next 26 years was an administrator for elementary schools. In 1988, he retired as principal of Central Lee Community Schools.

Active in the profession and the community, Leonard belonged to the Iowa Association of School Administrators, Southeast Iowa Elementary Principals Association and National Education Association. He held a seat on the State Board of the Iowa Association of Disabled Children and was a member of the Lions Club in Montrose, the American Association of Retired Persons, and the First Lutheran Church of Keokuk.

Leonard was wed for a second time, on Aug. 27, 1977, to Pauline (Westendorf) Lamprecht (Oct. 17, 1942-2012). Despite an 18-year gap in age, their union lasted for 35 years until her death.

Pauline brought two children from an earlier marriage, D. Edward Lamprecht and Gary Lamprecht.

Former wife Eleanor remarried to Leslie Emil Benjegerdes on July 25, 1981. She spent her final years in Manly, Worth County, IA and died on Aug. 7, 2005. Her remains rest in Hopkins Cemetery in Nodaway County, MO.

The couple spent their final years in Rochester, Olmsted County, MN. At the age of 69, Pauline was cut away by the Grim Reaper on July 8, 2012. Burial was in Memory Cemetery in Page County, IA.

As his health failed, Leonard was admitted to the Humboldt Care Center in Homboldt, IA. There, he died at the age of 91 on Oct. 5, 2014.

Daughter Lynn Crawford married (?) Pattee. Their home in 2014 was in Humboldt, IA.

On Christmas Day 1943, when he was age 18, he was united in matrimony with Jacqueline Louise Beech (March 29, 1927-1982).

The Crawfords made a home in Merced, CA and later returned to Clarinda. They were the parents of an only daughter, Sandra Lynne Dillon "Sandie" Matheny.

Sadness blanketed the family when Jacqueline died the day after 39th wedding anniversary, on Dec. 26, 1982.

Robert remained a widower for about four months and then on April 3, 1983 wedded 51-year-old Helen (Fuller) Pullen (June 7, 1931-2008). She was the daughter of Lee and Irene (Johnstone) Fuller and had grown up on a farm in Montgomery County, IA. She was divorced from her first husband, Donald Pullen ( ? - ? ).

After high school, Helen spent two years studying at Northwest Missouri State College at Maryville. Later, for four years, she was employed by Clarinda Mental Health. She then returned to Northwest Missouri to obtain her teaching degree. She went on to a career as an educator at Coburg, IA where she spent seven years. For the next 15 years, she served as a receptionist and secretary for Dr. C.E. Nichols, followed by a decade with Twin Oaks Veterinary Clinic. She was a member of First Christian Church of Clarinda and the American Legion Auxiliary, and enjoyed reading and poetry.

Robert passed away on Oct. 21, 2008. An obituary was printed in the Clarinda Jerald-Journal.

His widow Helen only lived for about another month and joined him in death at home, at age 77, on Nov. 28, 2008. Rev. John Clark presided over the funeral service, with interment in Clarinda Cemetery.

Daughter Sandra Lynne Dillon Crawford (1953-2014) was born on June 16, 1953 in Merced, Merced County, CA but grew up in Clarinda. She was twice married. Her first spouse was (?) Ross ( ? - ? ). They were the parents of Kenneth Wayne Ross, Jinny Lynne Ross and Kimberly Mae Thompson. Grief blanketed the family at the death of son Kenneth on Jan. 6, 1992. They also bore the loss of grandson Kaelob Wayne Mize in 1994. Later, Sandra wedded Harry Matheny ( ? - ? ). In 1996, at the age of 43, she relocated to Blue Mound, Linn County, KS. The Mathenys enjoyed attending NASCAR races at the famed Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. She also liked to read, garden, watch movies and play solitaire on her computer. After enduring a lengthy illness, Sandra died in Blue Mound at the age of 61 on Oct. 30, 2014. Her funeral service was held at the Blue Mound United Methodist Church, followed by cremation. An obituary in the Clarinda Herald-Journal noted that she was survived by sisters Vicki Boulware, Sherree Clinton and Iva Lively.

At the age of 23, on Feb. 23, 1951, he was joined in holy wedlock with 19-year-old Elaine Virginia Nothwehr (Dec. 3, 1931-2010). Their nuptials were held at St. John's Lutheran Church of Clarinda. She was a native of Yorktown, Page County, IA and the daughter of Eli and Lena Nothwehr.

Elaine was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Clarinda. As a young woman, she was employed as an operator for the Clarinda Telephone Exchange, where she and Donald met.

The Crawfords made a home in Clarinda for about a year and then in 1952 relocated to Bedford, IA, where Donald worked for Iowa Power and Light. Once the children were raised, Elaine went back to work at the Style Shop in Bedford, IA. They liked to take fishing vacations to Minnesota and enjoyed motorcycling. They also were active with St. Timothy's Lutheran Church, and enjoyed family reunions and playing in golf tournaments.

Donald retired in 1985, and after that the couple chose to spend their winters in Yuma, AZ.

As her health failed, Elaine was admitted to Edmonds Hospital in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, IA. There, she was carried away by the Angel of Death on March 14, 2010. Following funeral services in the family church, her remains were lowered into repose in Fairview Cemetery in Bedford, Taylor County, IA. An obituary was published in the Bedford Times-Press.

Daughter Rebecca Jo Crawford wedded Phil Terbell. They have resided in Cottonwood, AZ. Their children are Kelly Terbell, Jennifer Hostetler and Carolyn Scarbrough.

Son Dennis Keith Crawford married Jeanne. They live in New Market, IA and are the parents of Nathan Crawford and Keri Castillo.

On June 7, 1950, when she was age 21, Iris was joined in wedlock with 23-year-old Lewis Frederick "Doc" Carmichael (June 18, 1926-2007), son of Wilber and Mabel (Gant) Carmichael. Their marital union endured for 56 years.

They were parents Kenneth Frederick Carmichael, Kathryn Sue "Kathy" Owens and Lori Jean Clement.

For decades, they dwelled in New Market, IA. The Carmichaels enjoyed hosting weekend gatherings of their family.

It was said of Iris that she "enjoyed working at the Clarinda Outlet Store and her years as the head cook at the New Market school cafeteria. Iris was known to often give second helpings to the students. She was a wonderful cook and loved it as well as baking, knitting, crocheting, and doing word puzzles. Iris and Doc enjoyed camping, spending time at Windmill Lake, as well as getting together with family."

Iris outlived her husband by a number of years and made a home in Clarinda, IA. The Angel of Death carried her away on April 18, 2020. She was survived by seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. In an obituary, the family asked that any memorial donations be made to the New Market Church of Christ.

Son Kenneth Frederick Carmichael ( ? - ? ) married Marleen ( ? - ? ). They resided in Clarinda in 2004 and in Maryville, MO in 2020.

Daughter Kathryn Sue "Kathy" Carmichael ( ? - ? ) wedded Dean Owens ( ? - ? ). Circa 2005, they lived in Kansas City, MO and hosted a Crawford family reunion. They remained in KC as of 2020.

Daughter Lori Jean Carmichael ( ? - ? ) was joined in matrimony with Brian Clement ( ? - ? ). They established a home in New Market, IA.

Daughter Doris Crawford (1931-living) was born on Nov. 13, 1931 in Page County, IA.

The couple bore three children -- Laresa Kaye Roberts, Bryan Leroy Renfro and Michael Allen Renfro.

Her residence in 1998 was in Apple Valley, CA and in 2014 was in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Daughter Laresa Kaye Renfro ( ? -living) was born in (?). On Aug. 4, 1972, in Orange County, CA, she was joined in wedlock with her high school boyfriend David Lavern Roberts Jr. (April 22, 1952-2019), son of David Lavern and Mildred (Pergeson) Roberts of Tulsa, OK. Their union endured for 51 years until cleaved apart by death. The couple produced two children -- Cory Roberts and Candice Roberts. In the 2000s, the Robertses dwelled in Broken Arrow, OK. David was a longtime member of the Sons of the American Legion Post in The Colony, TX. Sadly, he passed into eternity at the age of 67 on June 14, 2019. A memorial service was held in Arrow Heights Baptist Church in Broken Arrow. Laresa graciously has provided important content and images for this biography.

Daughter Barbara Ellen Crawford (1933-1998) was born on Nov. 8, 1933 in Essex, Page County, IA.

When she was age 20, on Jan. 16, 1954, she wedded Alfred L. "Bud" Wilson ( ? -1998). The wedding ceremony was held in Platte City, MO.

The Wilsons were the parents of a family of four sons-- James Michael Wilson, Richard Allen Wilson, Geoffrey Kent Wilson and Denzil Ray Wilson.

Barbara had a deep interest in health care and earned a living as a licensed practicel nurse. Said the Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph, "Her hobbies included crocheting, helping others and being involved with the family racing team."

They died just eight months apart. Death took him away first, on March 23, 1998.

Toward the end, Barbara was admitted to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL. Sadly, she passed away one week after her 65th birthday, on Nov. 16, 1998. The funeral service was held at First Baptist church in Fairbury, IL, officiated by Rev. Kevin Comfort. Interment was in Graceland Cemetery, with an obituary published in the Pantagraph. She was survived by 11 grandchildren.

Son James Michael Wilson married Michele and resided for many years in Danville, IL.

Son Geoffrey Kent Wilson (1961-2012) was born on Oct. 28, 1961 in Columbia, MO. As a young man, he served in the U.S. Air Force. At the age of 21, on Aug. 5, 1983, he was joined in wedlock with his first bride, Deborah Gillis ( ? - ? ). Then on June 8, 1998, he married his second spouse, Deanna Hershe Bressner ( ? - ? ). Geoffrey was the father of Brittany Ziller, Ryan Wilson and Kara Wilson. He was employed as an automobile glass repair specialist. Their home in 1998 was in Melvin, IL. Riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle was on of Geoffrey's great loves, and it's said that he once entered a street stock car at the Fairbury American Legion Speedway. Sadness enveloped the family when the 50-year-old Geoffrey passed into deternity in Melvin, IL on Feb. 4, 2012. Funeral services were officiated by Rev. Steve Anderson in the First Baptist Church in Fairbury. Burial was in Graceland Cemetery, and an obituary appeared in the Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph.

Son Denzil Wilson was united in matrimony with Cheri. The couple dwelled in Chatsworth, IL in 1998-2012.

Son Homer "Keith" Crawford (1937-2019) was born on June 15, 1937 in Clarinda, Page County, IA.

When he was 20 years of age, on May 24, 1958, he was joined in the bonds of holy matrimony with 20-year-old Virginia Ann Pullan (Dec. 22, 1937-2014).

The three children born to this union were Kevin Mark Crawford, Kelly Dean Crawford and Kayla Jane Jacobs.

Virginia died in Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison on Oct. 10, 2014, at the age of 76.

Keith lived for another four-and-a-half years. As his health declined, he became a patient in Avoca Specialty Care in Avoca, IA. He joined her in eternity on March 30, 2019. His and her cremains were placed into eternal rest in the Memory Cemetery, also known as the New Market Cemetery.

Daughter Kayla Jane Crawford married Mark Jacobs. She was in Harlan, IA in 2019.