Ila L Crawford

Ila Leon (Koenig) Crawford was born in Red Cloud, NE to John and Millie (Leazenby) Koenig on February 16, 1914. She passed away at Alpine Living Center in Thornton, CO on December 11, 2015, 66 days before her 102nd birthday.

On November 14, 1929 she married Ivan Fay Crawford in Smith Center, KS. They made their home in Red Cloud, NE. In Nebraska she helped on the farm with the animals and raised 5 children. Dwayne was the first to arrive 5 years after they were married. They had 4 more children, Tinie, Roger, Galen, and Vicki. In 1956, Dwayne lived in Colorado, Tinie was in the service, and the rest of the family moved to Keenesburg, CO. Ila worked at a little candy store called Mrs. Flury’s while Ivan worked at Gingerich’s Turkey Farm. The family later moved to Brighton then to Strasburg.

After Vicki graduated from high school, Ivan and Ila moved to Bennett in 1971 where they resided until Ivan passed away on June 19, 2000. Ila babysat for whoever needed help, and especially enjoyed the kids in Bennett. Some of the them continued to call Ivan and Ila, Grandma and Grandpa.

After Ivan passed, Ila lived with each one of her children until she went to Alpine Living Center in 2002. She did very well for many years. She still knew her family until the week before she passed. She enjoyed weekly visits from several of her family members. She always loved seeing the little kids when they would go see Great-Great Grandma and really liked spending time outside.

Her family gave her a 100th birthday party that was attended by 50 relatives and friends. She also had a 101st birthday party with about the same number in attendance.

Left to mourn her passing and celebrate her life are her sons—Roger (Carolyn) of Commerce City, CO and Galen (Olive) of Watkins, CO, daughter Vicki Baumgartner of Keenesburg, CO, and daughter-in-law, Barbara Crawford of Thornton, CO along with 17 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and 19 great-great grandchildren with one on the way. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and one sister-in-law, Dorothy Koenig of Greeley, CO.

Preceding her in death is her mother and father, her son Dwayne in 1993, husband Ivan in 2000, son Tinie in 2011, son-in-law Kenneth Baumgartner in 2013 as well as her brothers --Ralph and Lee Koenig and her sister, Vada Mae Antil.

She deeply impacted the lives of many and will be missed by all that know her.