Frank Crabtree was born July 29, 1882, and died on Friday, November 5, 1982, at the ago of 100 years.
He was born near Weeping Water, Nebraska, and moved to Haigler, Nebraska, on an immigrant train in the year 1890.
He came from a family of 11 brothers and sisters, all of whom lived around the Haigler area.
In September of 1912, he was united in marriage to Bessie Mae Bartlett who preceded him in death in 1973 at the age of 87.
Frank finished school in 1897 and taught school around this area for several years. After teaching school, he bought the homestead of his sister, Mary, and farmed for the rest of his life until he retired in his late 80s.
For the past two years, he has been a permanent resident of the Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. For three years prior, he spent winters in the Hester Home and summers in his home in Haigler.
Frank and Mae Crabtree had five children, one of whom died as an infant.
Survivors include Alice Gregóry of Lamar, Colorado; Ethel Rath of Haigler; Lloyd Crabtree of Haigler; and Floy Fisher of Laird, Colorado. Also surviving are eight grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Frank was a quiet, loving and soft-spoken man with a good sense of humor. He joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church in 1923 and has been very close to God for many years.
The Bible was his very favorite book and he read it faithfully every day up until the time he died.
When he was 87 years of age, skin cancer caused the surgical removal of his right eye, but that did not stop him from reading his Bible even though the vision in his left eye was very poor.
One comment he made when he lost his eye was "Oh, well, I see too much with two eyes anyway."
Frank was never a wealthy man as far as monetary value is concerned, but he was one of the wealthiest men on earth concerning peace of mind and family.
He was deeply respected and loved by all who knew him because he always lived by what he believed.
No cross words were ever spoken from his mouth. His love was deep for all mankind and nature.
One of his favorite hobbies was growing a huge field of watermelon and cantaloupe. If you happened to drive by his place in the summertime, you would see him in his melon patch hoeing weeds in above 100 degree weather. People drove from miles around to
purchase the melons. He always grew enough for everyone.
He loved wildlife enough, so that he never set an animal trap in his melon patch. Instead, he made sure he grew enough melons for the coyotes, coons and skunks to have plenty to eat.
Sometimes the neighborhood children would raid his melon patch. What they didn't know was that many times he would be sitting in the dark watching them and laughing about it. He loved to share the melons with everyone.
Frank was always a health-conscious person. He believed it was healthier to abstain from eating meat and was a vegetarian for many years.
He always made sure he got plenty of physical exercise. Other than the skin cancer at the age of 87, he had never been sick. He suffered a mild heart problem at the age of 99 and never took medication at all until that time.
At the Hester Home, he was still able to care for himself until 1 1/2 weeks before his death.
On August 1, 1982, Frank's family held an open house honoring his 100th birthday. He had visitors on that day from as far away as California and New York. His mind was still alert and he enjoyed and appreciated all of the attention he received.
The local newspapers interviewed him on his birthday. When asked about his secret for longevity, he responded, "I had a good beginning and just took care of myself."
His advice to others who wish to live a long life was "Stay away from wickedness and evil. Take good care of yourself and believe in the Lord."
The most important thing he discussed for many years was the second coming of Jesus. He expressed numerous times how wonderful it would be to be in heaven with the one he loved most—Jesus Christ.
Written with love and admiration by
Eunice Richard
Granddaughter of Frank Crabtree
Services were held Tuesday, November 9, 1982, at 10:30 a.m. at Jones Funeral Chapel in Benkelman with Pastor Gordon Herra officiating. Music was furnished by Eunice Richard, Melvin Fisher, Linda Fisher, Gary Fisher and Leone Beeson. Selections were "Waiting and Watching" and a selected duet.
Bearers were Brent Richard, Gary Fisher, Dwight Brewer, Melvin Fisher, Norman Beeson, Tad Harden and Dan Schorzman.
Interment was in the St. Francis Cemetery, St. Francis, Kansas, with arrangements by Jones Funeral Home of Benkelman.
~Printed in the Benkelman, NE Post, November 1982
He was born near Weeping Water, Nebraska, and moved to Haigler, Nebraska, on an immigrant train in the year 1890.
He came from a family of 11 brothers and sisters, all of whom lived around the Haigler area.
In September of 1912, he was united in marriage to Bessie Mae Bartlett who preceded him in death in 1973 at the age of 87.
Frank finished school in 1897 and taught school around this area for several years. After teaching school, he bought the homestead of his sister, Mary, and farmed for the rest of his life until he retired in his late 80s.
For the past two years, he has been a permanent resident of the Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. For three years prior, he spent winters in the Hester Home and summers in his home in Haigler.
Frank and Mae Crabtree had five children, one of whom died as an infant.
Survivors include Alice Gregóry of Lamar, Colorado; Ethel Rath of Haigler; Lloyd Crabtree of Haigler; and Floy Fisher of Laird, Colorado. Also surviving are eight grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Frank was a quiet, loving and soft-spoken man with a good sense of humor. He joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church in 1923 and has been very close to God for many years.
The Bible was his very favorite book and he read it faithfully every day up until the time he died.
When he was 87 years of age, skin cancer caused the surgical removal of his right eye, but that did not stop him from reading his Bible even though the vision in his left eye was very poor.
One comment he made when he lost his eye was "Oh, well, I see too much with two eyes anyway."
Frank was never a wealthy man as far as monetary value is concerned, but he was one of the wealthiest men on earth concerning peace of mind and family.
He was deeply respected and loved by all who knew him because he always lived by what he believed.
No cross words were ever spoken from his mouth. His love was deep for all mankind and nature.
One of his favorite hobbies was growing a huge field of watermelon and cantaloupe. If you happened to drive by his place in the summertime, you would see him in his melon patch hoeing weeds in above 100 degree weather. People drove from miles around to
purchase the melons. He always grew enough for everyone.
He loved wildlife enough, so that he never set an animal trap in his melon patch. Instead, he made sure he grew enough melons for the coyotes, coons and skunks to have plenty to eat.
Sometimes the neighborhood children would raid his melon patch. What they didn't know was that many times he would be sitting in the dark watching them and laughing about it. He loved to share the melons with everyone.
Frank was always a health-conscious person. He believed it was healthier to abstain from eating meat and was a vegetarian for many years.
He always made sure he got plenty of physical exercise. Other than the skin cancer at the age of 87, he had never been sick. He suffered a mild heart problem at the age of 99 and never took medication at all until that time.
At the Hester Home, he was still able to care for himself until 1 1/2 weeks before his death.
On August 1, 1982, Frank's family held an open house honoring his 100th birthday. He had visitors on that day from as far away as California and New York. His mind was still alert and he enjoyed and appreciated all of the attention he received.
The local newspapers interviewed him on his birthday. When asked about his secret for longevity, he responded, "I had a good beginning and just took care of myself."
His advice to others who wish to live a long life was "Stay away from wickedness and evil. Take good care of yourself and believe in the Lord."
The most important thing he discussed for many years was the second coming of Jesus. He expressed numerous times how wonderful it would be to be in heaven with the one he loved most—Jesus Christ.
Written with love and admiration by
Eunice Richard
Granddaughter of Frank Crabtree
Services were held Tuesday, November 9, 1982, at 10:30 a.m. at Jones Funeral Chapel in Benkelman with Pastor Gordon Herra officiating. Music was furnished by Eunice Richard, Melvin Fisher, Linda Fisher, Gary Fisher and Leone Beeson. Selections were "Waiting and Watching" and a selected duet.
Bearers were Brent Richard, Gary Fisher, Dwight Brewer, Melvin Fisher, Norman Beeson, Tad Harden and Dan Schorzman.
Interment was in the St. Francis Cemetery, St. Francis, Kansas, with arrangements by Jones Funeral Home of Benkelman.
~Printed in the Benkelman, NE Post, November 1982
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