Funeral services for Francis Layton Crawford, 103, of Sisseton, SD will be Friday, March 9, 2012 at 10:30 AM at the SWST Community Center, Agency Village, SD with Rev. Enright Bighorn and Rev. Vern Donnell officiating. Organists will be Mary Beth Kirk and Kay Bursheim. Pallbearers will be Donnie Almos, Doug Donley, Charles Cox Jr., Richard Crawford Jr., Francis Eastman, Rodney Crawford and Ron Goodeagle Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Duane Labelle, Bill Smith, Christ Anderson, Leonard Gruby, Darwin Anderson, Jim Janisch, Nicky and Edwayne Crawford, Randolph Crawford, and Ron Goodeagle Sr. Interment will be in the Buffalo Lake Presbyterian Cemetery, Eden, SD. There will be a wake services on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 with an all night wake on Thursday, March 8, 2012 starting at 7:00 PM at the Tribal Community Center, Agency Village, SD. The Cahill Funeral Chapel of Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.
Francis Layton Crawford was born on December 17, 1908 near Buffalo Lake in Marshall County, SD, to Abraham and Cora (LaBelle) Crawford. He grew up and attended school in Flandreau and Haskell Indian Schools. Francis married Lillian Sansaver and to this marriage four children were born. He married Julia Marie Lafromboise on October 13, 1949 at St. Peters Church in Sisseton, SD. They lived on Francis's family farm by Piya's Slough near Buffalo Lake. Where they farmed and raised cattle, pigs, and chickens. They retired from farming in 1989. They also planted gardens. He was the Buffalo Lake Councilman for 12 years. He was involved with their church activities. He and Marie would go to the Tekakwitha Nursing Home to feed the Dakota elderly monthly and also help other elderly Dakotas prepare and cook traditional foods.
Francis is survived by one son Lloyd and his wife Carole Crawford of Sisseton, SD, Thirteen grandchildren, Forty One great grandchildren, Thirty great-great grandchildren and nieces and nephews raised by Francis and his wives, Earl Crawford, June Azure, Donald "Ducky" Crawford, Cora Mae Cox, Lester Crawford Jr., Rose McGuire, Gary Crawford, Zola Greene, Jimmy and Johnny Johnson, and Floyd Beaudreau.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wives, two sons, Norman and Floyd, one daughter, Frances Crawford-Eastman, two grandchildren, and six brothers.