De Jay Crowser

De Jay Crowser, better known as "Jay" to his family and friends was born October 7, 1942, at Rapid City, South Dakota, to William F. "Ole" and Anna M. (Detavernier) Crowser.

He grew up on a ranch in the Dowling area northwest of Philip.  He graduated from Philip High School in 1961.

As a young man he worked on the installation of the minuteman missiles in Wyoming and western South Dakota.  He also cut and sold cedar post in western South Dakota.

Jay was united in marriage to Janice Rae Kopp on September 25, 1965, at Wall, South Dakota.

They made their home on the Skee Rasmussen Ranch south of Belvidere where Jay worked as a ranch hand until 1969 when they moved to Philip.

In the fall of 1969 they began operating Jay's Saddlery, which specialized in leather work, making saddles, belts, purses and doing boot repair.  In the early 1980s he becamse a representative for Mueller Feeds in this area.  In 1973 they moved onto a small ranch west of Philip, which they opearted along with doing custom haying.  They continued to do all these in conjuction with operating the saddlery shop.

Jay was a long time Philip businessman and a member of the Philip Chamber of Commerce.  He was very active with the Masonic Lodge #153, AF & AM, and the Naja Temple.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Rae Crowser of Philip; two sons, Nels Crowser and his wife, Sheila, of Torrington, Wyoming, and Witt Crowser of Philip; a daughter, Kristi Crowser of Philip; three grandchildren, Gyce, Ashlei and Marissa Crowser, all of Torrington, Wyoming; his mother, Anna M. Crowser, of Philip; a brother, Ray Crowser and his wife, Becky, of Whitewood, South Dakota; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Jay was preceded in death by his father, Ole Crowser, and a sister, Patsy Crowser.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the Jay Crowser Athletic Scholarship Fund.

Services
Thursday, July 8, 1993
1:00 p.m.
American Legion Hall
Philip, South Dakota

Officiating
Father Arnold Kari

Music
Marianne Frein - Pianist
Memory Neville - Soloist
"Daddy's Hands"
Evan Deutscher - Soloist
"The Dance"

Ushers
Frank Rosenau - Vernon Starr

Active Pallbearers
Mike Mortellaro - Tom Ferguson
Dugan Stewart - Les Wintrode
Rick King - Jim Carr

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment with Masonic Rites
by the Masonic Lodge #153,
A.F. & A.M.
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota

Service Details

Services
Thursday, July 8, 1993
1:00 p.m.
American Legion Hall in Philip