(veteran)

Alton “Orvan”, 84, of Blair, died Monday, April 16, 2001, at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 20, at First United Methodist Church in Blair, with the Rev. Michael McGregory officiating. Military graveside services and interment will be in the Kennard Cemetery.

Alton O. Crone was born Aug. 6, 1916 at Mary. He was the son of Evan J. and Minnie (Blumenthal) Crone. He attended elementary school in rural Brown County and graduated from Cottonwood High School near Brewster.

He worked on a ranch near Dunning prior to entering the Navy in August 1940. He served in the Navy during World War II, and retired from the Reserves in 1976.

On Jan. 17, 1942, he married Viola Bailey at Corpus Christi, Texas. They moved to Blair in 1946, where they worked for a turkey farm. In 1955, Mr. Crone began working for the Jebco Company, retiring in 1981. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Kennard and was a member of the Blair American Legion.

He is survived by his wife, Viola, two daughters and sons-in-law, Lola and Charles Kristensen of Kennard, and Donna and Roger Andreasen of Blair, a son and daughter-in-law, Lyle and Becky Crone of Fremont, 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, six sisters, Claire Andersen of Blair, Ruth Henderson of East Northport, N.Y., Nola Wilson of Cypress, Calif., Evelyn McElgunn of Apple Valley, Calif., Wilda Diefenbaugh of Merna, Beryle Banker of Britt, Iowa: four brothers, Evan (Tad) Crone Jr., of Merna, Floyd Crone of Ainsworth, Eldon Crone of Fort Morgan, Colo., and Laurel Crone of Grand Junction, Colo.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Wilma Hawthorne, and a grandson, Troy Crone.

Memorials are suggested to the Grace United Methodist Building Fund or the American Heart Association.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Note: Buried in Blk 8 Lt 6 Sp 2; Find a Grave Memorial # 26244579