Obituary: Alma Crosbie

Funeral Services

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 2:00 PM (Mountain).

New Underwood Gymnasium
New Underwood, South Dakota

Interment

New Underwood Cemetery
New Underwood, South Dakota

Visitation

5-7 p.m. Friday, October 18
Rush Funeral Chapel
Wall, South Dakota

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In memory of

Alma Crosbie

of New Underwood, South Dakota, died on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at the Monument Hospital in Rapid City at the age of 80

Alma was born on December 30, 1943, the third of three triplets: Alice, Anna, and Alma (she always joked she kicked the other two out). She grew up on the family farm in Creighton, SD, helping her parents and siblings. By 11 she was driving tractor and had already begun learning to play the accordion, starting a lifelong love of music and performance.

Her first job outside the farm was at Wall Drug (earning 78 cents/hr, a great wage!), and she often played music with her family at local events and dances. She graduated high school in 1961. In her 20’s she was an avid bowler, and competed for Miss South Dakota Stock Growers, sponsored by the Elm Springs Cowbells. In 1966 she met a handsome young cowboy named Gene Crosbie, and the two were wed a few years later on June 28, 1970.

Alma attended Black Hills State University (then known as Black Hills Teacher’s College) and taught for 43 years. Beginning at age 19, she taught at country schools in Elm Springs, Cottonwood, Creighton, and Wicksville, followed by 35 years in New Underwood, SD.

She was always very active in her community. Among her many activities, she spent 24 years as superintendent of creative hobbies at the Central States Fair, 10 years on the Pennington County Election Board, was President of American Legion Auxiliary #256, Treasurer of the 1902 Cowboys, Queen coordinator for the South Dakota State High School Rodeo, a member of the Red Hat Society and Farmingdale Merry Mixers, secretary of the Catalyst Club, and longtime gossip columnist for the New Underwood Post and Pennington County Courant (Baseline Breezes with Shirley & Cathie Printz).

Alma was a devout Lutheran throughout her life. She was baptized and confirmed at Emmanual Lutheran Church in Creighton, SD, taught Bible School alongside her cousin Paula Eisenbraun at Elm Springs Church, and was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church, Rapid City, SD for 52 years.

In her spare time, Alma enjoyed sewing & quilting, toll painting, gardening, cake decorating, doting over her grandchildren, and beating Gene at card games.

Memorial gifts will go to the New Underwood School Music Department, Peace Lutheran Church, Rapid City, and Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Creighton.

Survivors include her husband Gene; one son Casey Crosbie and his wife Erin of Orange County, California; two grandchildren Winry and Tawan Crosbie; one brother Fred Eisenbraun and his wife Doris of Creighton; two sisters Alice Richter of New Underwood and Lorraine Fauske of Wall; a brother-in-law Don Brown of Elko, Nevada; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Alma was preceded in death by her parents Oscar and Margaret (Luikens) Eisenbraun; one sister Anna Brown; and two brothers-in-law Ted Richter and Norman Fauske.

Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. on Friday, October 18, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 19, at the New Underwood Gym, with Pastor David Lindenberg officiating.

Interment will be at the New Underwood Cemetery.

FUNERAL SERVICE
Saturday, October 19, 2024 - 2:00 p.m.
New Underwood Gym
New Underwood, South Dakota

OFFICIATING
Pastor David Lindenberg

READER
Pastor Harold Delbridge

MUSIC
Myrna Smith - Pianist
Paige Cordes - Vocalist
“The Old Rugged Cross”
“In The Garden”
Congregational Hymn
“Amazing Grace”

USHERS
Gale Bruns - Jerry Mader
Steve Swanson - Ed Eisenbraun

PALLBEARERS
All of Alma’s Nieces and Nephews
Tyler Richter - Matthew Eisenbraun - Roseanne Potter
Mark Fauske - Lisa Schalk - Jana Nelson
Jayson Brown - Jayme Brown - Larry Mills - Rick Mills

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

INTERMENT
New Underwood Cemetery
New Underwood, South Dakota

RECEPTION FOLLOWING SERVICE
Hazel’s Sweet Treats and Eats
16052 227th Street
New Underwood, SD 57761

Sign the guestbook

So sorry to hear of Alma's passing. When ever we met she always had a nice word to say. You are in our thoughts prayers. ~ Henry Chapell Gillette Wy. (10/16/2024)
Thank-you for your friendship, Alma. I was just thinking about the Jenner Customer appreciation dinner. We sat together and had fun conversation last time. Hey the rural kids school get-together at Creighton was a wonderful fun time last summer, too. You brightened the lives of everyone who had the opportunity to know you. ~ Ruby I Gabriel Pedro, SD (10/12/2024)
Our love and prayers go out to the families. Love Susan and Dennis ~ Dennis & Susan Walsh MIAMI FL. (10/11/2024)
Our thoughts and prayers are with Alma's family. Always enjoyed our luncheon every fall. ~ Tucker and Bev Hudson Howes sd (10/11/2024)
So sorry for your loss. I always loved visiting with Alma after Church in the drug store. ~ Ronda Hamann Wall,SD (10/11/2024)
My Deepest Sympathy. I am keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. ~ Fawna Geigle Sturgis (10/10/2024)
Alma's beautiful voice gave comfort to many at so many funerals in the New Underwood community. I think it was the beauty of what was inside her that came out when she sang. So sorry for your loss. ~ Serena Parnell (Madsen) Hulett, Wyoming (10/10/2024)
So sorry for your loss Alma was such a beautiful soul and always the same. She will be missed. ~ Lynn Righins Wall (10/10/2024)
I am so saddened to hear this. She was one in a million. Always loved seeing and visiting with her. Know that all of you are in my prayers. ~ Mary Jane Doyle PO Box 109, Wall, SD 57790 (10/10/2024)
Lorraine and family. We are so very sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May God bless you and comfort you. ~ Pam Fairchild and Sharon Vaughan Sturgis, SD and Newport, NC (10/10/2024)
Gene, Casey, Alice and families, I am so sorry to hear about Alma. She was not only a wonderful teacher to some of our family members and two of my sons, but she was also a very dear friend of our family. She will be so missed by the community of New Underwood. My heart aches for all of you. Please know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers. With deepest sympathy. Sherry Cox ~ Sherry L Cox Cumming, Iowa (10/10/2024)