Nancy Crooks

nancy crooks
Nancy's Live Streamed Prayer Service and Funeral can be viewed below starting shortly before the services: Click the link below to view the funeral service. https://boxcast.tv/view/funeral-for-nancy-crooks-lva2q88thapl0myki4mz
Nancy Lee Crooks, 81, was welcomed home into the loving arms of Jesus on February 4, 2021. In her later years she had been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis and heart disease. She died peacefully in the arms of her husband Lynn and daughter Lori in her home. She was born on October 4, 1939 in Milwaukee, WI to Alma and Oscar Koehler. She graduated from Milwaukee North High School. Nancy graduated form Munt Sinai Hospital School of Nursing in 1960. Nancy married Howard Ponik on August 6, 1960 and they were blessed with 2 children, Mark, and Lori. Following Howard’s death, she met and married Lynn Crooks on June 29, 1974. Nancy had a passion for labor and delivery nursing. She worked as an RN at St. John’s Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital and Luther Hall. She enjoyed her work as a psychiatric nurse at St. Ansgar’s Hospital. For many years she loved teaching Lamaze and infant massage for Sanford Health. She truly enjoyed her time as a parish nurse. Nancy accepted the Lord as her Savior at an early age and her faith provided her with a strong foundation. She was happy to share her beliefs with others. Nancy was always active in her church and truly enjoyed attending Hope Lutheran. She loved participating in BSF Bible studies. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother (Nana). She had unique and outspoken personality. She had a very strong values and was known to stick to her guns. She will be remembered for her gentle smile, patient disposition, and kind heart toward all. She loved relaxing on the pontoon boat on Otter Tail Lake and playing tennis with family and friends. She was a loyal follower of her grandchildren’s various sporting events and was very proud of all their accomplishments. She was a gifted seamstress, quilter, and knitter. She was a fabulous cook and baker who owned over 200 cookbooks. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Howard, her grandson Louis West, her son Mark, and her sister Karen. Nancy is survived by her husband Lynn; her daughter Lori (Dan) Traiser of Fergus Falls, MN; her three grandchildren, Kristin Traiser of Bloomington, MN, Jenna Traiser of Fargo, ND and Erik Traiser of Moorhead, MN; daughter-in-law Sharon Ponik of Fargo, ND; brother Richard Koehler of Wauwatosa, WI; brother-in-law Richard Crooks of Hankinson, ND; sister-in-laws Joan Crooks of Pingree, ID, Cindy Crooks of Hankinson, ND, and Mary (Dave) Kluge of Hankinson, ND, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the gracious staff of Hospice and the wonderful caregivers from Comfort Keepers. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 P.M. on Monday, February 8, 2021 at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center, Fargo. The funeral will be at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at Hope Lutheran Church-North Campus in Fargo. Everyone is welcome to attend the services. For those unable, both services will be livestreamed on the funeral home website. Burial will be at a later date at Riverside Cemetery in Fargo. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center. To sign the online guestbook, please visit our website at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com

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Guestbook

  1. Dear Lynn and family, Barb and I are both shocked and saddened to hear of Nancy’s passing. We really enjoyed visiting with the two of you at the lake each summer. She and all of you are in our thoughts and prayers during this sad time.

  2. So sorry for your loss, Nancy was a wonderful lady, always had a infectious smile. She will be missed. Our prayers go out to you and your family.

  3. Nancy will be missed at the Lake. What a beautiful Lady. She slways had a smile and love in her heart. Our thoughts and Prayers to the Family. God Bless.

    Gene and Gloria

  4. Lori, I was so sad to hear about your mom. Some of my very best memories include spending time at your house! I can still hear your mom saying “Oh, Lori” in her harried voice, as we would propose the next “great idea.” She was a trooper when we stayed up all night to watch the royal wedding of Charles and Diana! These are cherished times, Lori. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you at the time. I am out of town otherwise I would be at the service. Much love to you and your family.

  5. We are so saddened to hear news of Nancy’s passing. We will always remember and miss her enthusiasm for life, family, friends, and conversation. Our hearts go out to Lynn, Lori, Dan, Sharon and family.

    Lynn and Mary Jordheim

  6. Dear Lynn, Lori and family. I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Nancy. Having her as my big sister made many memories of her which I will always cherish. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
    Dick and Marsha

  7. Lynn, we are very sorry to hear of Nancy’s passing. Our thoughts will be with you at this time. We fondly remember our visits in North Dakota and also in Arizona with you and Nancy.
    Dave & Diane Peterson

  8. “Lynn and Nancy”… my growing up years. Synonymous
    with my other mom and dad. No words to describe the amazing woman she was and forever will be to me. Always positive, kind, gentle, and ALWAYS available to me in every single way.
    Her elegant form and heart…that i distinctly remember on her wedding day to Lynn…as a freckled face little girl. She glowed as she walked down that isle towards her love.. as Lori and I held bright yellow daisies that i can still feel and smell.
    To you my dear Lori and Lynn… Dan and whole Traiser clan.
    Your(our) mother, wife, grandmother and friend has only left in body. She will forever be here on earth in all of our hearts and minds.
    And so lucky and blessed are we, who believe that God willing, we will all be celebrating together again someday, on that Grand Pontoon in heaven🙏🏻❤️

  9. We are so very sorry to hear of Nancy’s passing. Lynn, you and Nancy were so much in love! She watched out for you and took good care of you. She was an amazing person and her “patients” were so lucky to have her. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family.

  10. Dear Lynn and family: I am very sorry to hear that Nancy has passed away. She was a wonderful lady, and a fine wife and mother. My deepest sympathy and best wishes. Lee Hagen

  11. Lynn and family. We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Nancy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Leo and Stacy Rognlin

  12. Nancy was such a fun lady to visit with while she cheered for the Fergus Falls Otters!! Great memories & sympathy to all!

  13. So sorry to hear of Nancy’s passing.. i’ve been privileged to have been in many Bible studies with her at Hope and BSF and she always was so pleasant and sweet never wavering in her faith and God’s love and sovereignty even in the pain as when her son passed and with her diagnosis… . She will be missed.. happy I can watch online as am out of town. Prayers and sympathy to you all.. she loved you so much.

  14. May the memories of Nancy: happy times, joyful smiles, hearty laughter, caring words, help you through this sorrowful time. I enjoyed our study of Genesis with Nancy in BSF. My prayers are with you.

  15. Nancy and I worked together at St John’s Hospital. We were both labor and delivery nurses. Nancy always had such a gentle touch with the Mom’s in labor. She was an excellent nurse and I looked up to her as a role model. We both went on to become Lamaze instructors. Extending my deepest sympathy to her family. Knowing Nancy was a gift.

  16. Lynn and family, we are sorry to learn of Nancy passing. Our thoughts and prayers to you during this difficult time.

  17. Dear Lynn, Lori, and Family,
    We always enjoyed visiting with Lynn and Nancy on our annual summer camping and fishing trips. Nancy was such a delightful, wonderful lady with an infectious smile and so many interesting things to share, among them her joy and pride of her precious children and grandchildren. May God’s gentle hand touch your hearts with peace and many fond memories. Our most sincere sympathy to each of you.

  18. Dear Lynn and Family,

    I was very fortunate to have gotten to know Nancy through teaching Lamaze at St John`s which led us to travel to New York City and Chicago to attend conventions. Nancy continued to be a friend on the tennis court and inviting me and our kids to swim in your pool . Nancy had a big warm heart to others , a very classy and talented lady! Our deepest sympathy to you and your family.

  19. Aunt Nancy was always the most kind and hospitable person, and had a knack for making everyone feel at home. I still remember when I was a junior in High School – there was a really horrible blizzard and I couldn’t make it home, so Aunt Nancy and Uncle Lynn took me in for a couple of days. Even though it was late and last minute, they acted like it was no inconvenience at all. Aunt Nancy was wonderful, she will be dearly missed. It helps to know she’s in good company up there.

  20. Dearest Lynn,
    Was so sorry to hear of Nancy.’s passing! Remember her fondly from our Law school reunions, Maybe myOld fart will take care of her in heaven. Thinking of you and your family, Remember “ one day at a time”

  21. Nancy was one of my dearest and oldest friends. We met at St John’s Hospital at the time clock as we were finishing our tour of duty. She drove me home as we lived only a block from each other and that was the beginning of a 56 year friendship.
    We shared so many beautiful times together and sad times as well. When Her first husband Howard died we became very protective of her andMark and Lori. When she met Lynn we checked him out, only to find out that his friends were doing the same thing.
    I was her Matron of Honor at their wedding and we shared many wonderful memories in those early years. We shared our love professionally as well as sewing cooking and and get togethers. Our daughter Susan introduced Lori to Dan and Suzie was bridesmaid at their wedding so we became a second family to one another. We also shared the sad times when Mark died and the loss of a son.
    When we grew older we shared our love for the Lord as we both became more involved in our churches and related Church, Community involvement.
    I so admired Nancy’s tenacity to save souls and reach out to those dying and had lost their faith. She visited a terminally ill young man who was dying at the hospital and had lost his faith. She evangelized to him and hdd we Accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior before he died. This is only one of the examples of her preaching the gospel to others.
    In August we moved to Georgia to a Seniors Retirement Center as my husband has Dementia. Nancy and I talked on the phone frequently and she was very open about Death and Dying and her terminal diagnosis. She was ready to meet her Lord and Savior but reluctant to leave her beautiful family which she adored.
    I feel so bad that we can’t be there for her funeral but we will be there in Spirit. She is now with The Lord and her family members gone before her. Our Sincere Condolences to Lynn, Lori and Dan, Sharon and all family members, I’m hoping that God Willing, we will all be together in Heaven for all eternity. God Bless sweet Nancy till we meet again. Joan and Roger Schraufek.

  22. I have such fond memories of working with Nancy at Luther Hall and in joining with her in friendship through the years to laugh and remember fun and crazy times together. Her constant has been her smile, her kindness, and deep concern for others. She loved to teach and gifted so many young parents with the tools they needed to start their journey into becoming a family. My deepest sympathy goes to Lynn and all her family. She has been a very special gift to so many in her life.
    Mary and Dick Schaefer

  23. Lynn, Lori, Sharon…I apologize for not being able to be there….feel so bad for you all…I have so many memories of Nancy…I used to mess with her some just to see what kind of reaction I would get…I recall the times when mom would have Grand Star and Crystal and I got to stay with you all while she went…like all the cousins we always looked forward to swimming in the pool….I remember going to south gate racket club and hanging out there while she played tennis…I remember playing board games at numerous holidays especially at grandma’s house when she was alive..ha..I recall one time playing a board game that Nancy got for u all for xmas…she was really excited about playing until after some of people playing started to come up with x rated answers to the questions and then it was like “we gotta go” she then packed up the game in the middle of it and u guys left…I recall her being a real good seamstress…always making something real cool to wear for her and or Lori…I recall the whole family including Richard and Judy, Alisha, Jennifer and Geoffrey going to potatoes lake…was a good time…miss them times… many thoughts and prayers with you all…Love Deb

  24. Nancy will always be loved, remembered, and missed.
    Thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.
    Marcia Liebau Schultz, Mt. Sinai Nursing Classmate

  25. Carol Griffin
    Nancy and I were roommates at Mount Sinai and kept in touch over the years by letters and occasional visits. It was so shocking to hear of your illness and rapid decline. She had a very strong faith and knew that heaven would be her home and we talked about seeing each other again, however long that would be. Greg and I send our sincere sympathy and love to her family. Greg and Carol

  26. Kynn..

    So sorry to gear about Nancy..Our prayers and sympathies are with you and your family.

    Daryl/Debbie Helbling (Annear)

  27. So sorry for the loss of Nancy. Very gracious lady and good friend.

    God’s Peace to Nancy and the family.

    Dave & Cheryl Kraft

  28. Nancy was our lamaze teacher many, many years ago. I have run into since there. What a beautiful, kind person.

  29. So very sorry to hear of Nancy’s passing. I hadn’t realized she had died til getting Hope Lutheran’s newsletter today. I worked with Nancy at Luther Hall and always enjoyed her. She was so happy and positive. I know she loved her family so much and will be missed by them and all who knew her. Rest in Peace Nancy. Beth


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