Hildur Jeanette (Christopherson) Crownhart

Hildur Crownhart

Hildur died comfortably and peacefully on June 26, 2014 at Traditions of Frederic Assisted Living in Frederic, Wisconsin.  Some say she died, in part, from a broken heart.  You see, her husband Maurice died just 4 short months ago.  Hildur Christopherson and Maurice Crownhart, it's been said, met when they were 4 years old in Sunday school at English Lutheran Church in Grantsburg and that started a close and loving relationship that lasted over 90 years with 73½ of those years as husband and wife.

Hildur and Maurice graduated together from Grantsburg High School in 1936 and enrolled together in Grantsburg's one year teacher training class and began to teach in area country schools at age 19.  They were married on August 10, 1940 at the "Little Brown Church in the Vale" in Nashua, Iowa.

Like her husband Maurice, Hildur seemed to excel at whatever she did.  She was a renowned baker, a consummate homemaker, and for all who were close to her, a loving caretaker.  She was all of those things and much more.

Her children, and grandchildren and great grandchildren too, will miss her "sticky buns" and ginger snaps and everyone will remember her homemade breads, coffee rings, rosettes and so many other wonderful baked goods.  Some will remember that when there was a bake sale in town, folks would come asking specifically if they had any of "Hildur's bread" left.

Her boys could always count on coming home and finding Mom there.  Today in an era where many moms find it a necessity to work outside of the home, all the while she was raising her family Hildur never did.  Her home was always immaculate, supper always ready, laundry always done.  It was a very "Leave it to Beaver" kind of environment to grow up in.

Besides taking wonderful care of her family, Hildur also took time to look after those in the neighborhood who needed to be cared for.  Especially many of the older ladies benefited from Hildur's loving concern.  Checking on them daily, perhaps bringing them something freshly baked for coffee, or attending to their household or health needs, Hildur could always be counted on.  In fact, when her next door neighbor Elfie Anderson got to where she needed to be in the CCC in Grantsburg, Hildur was there every day to check in on her.  It seems that someone took note of how regularly and lovingly she came to care for Elfie and told her she needed to come to work there full time.  Well, with the boys gone from home, she decided "why not" and so worked at CCC for quite a number of years and never missed a day (which tells you something else about Hildur's fine qualities).

Hildur was born on the Christopherson homestead just east of Grantsburg, Wisconsin on October 11, 1918 and, with the exception of a few years she spent in Frederic, lived in Grantsburg her entire life.

Hildur is survived by; four sons, Wayne and his wife Jan, Dale and his wife Donna, Paul and his wife Fran, and Bruce and his wife Connie; 13 grandchildren; and 16 great grandchildren.

Preceding Hildur in death were her husband Maurice, her parents, 2 sisters, 2 brothers, and 1 daughter-in-law.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 18, 11:00 AM at Faith Lutheran Church in Grantsburg.  Hildur’s family will greet guests at the church beginning at 10:00 A.M.  She will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery following the service.  The family wishes to invite their guests to join them for lunch and fellowship at the church following the cemetery service.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that contributions be made to the American Heart Association.

The Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Centuria has been entrusted with arrangements.