Dellois "Del" Crane

Del Crane died

The funeral for Del Crane, 89, was last Friday in Lusk. Crane died at the Lusk nursing home June 11.

He was born March 19, 1889, the son of Elmer Crane and Mary Olive Keplinger Crane, southeast of Merriman, Neb. When Del was 16 his father died and Del had to take over care of the ranch.

July 24, 1910 he married Ida Bethel Cass at Merriman. The couple homesteaded south of Merriman in Cherry County on the Niobrara River. In 1924 he sold the homestead and went to work for Bill Bachlor at the Bar-T-Ranch northeast of Merriman.

In 1928 Del and Ida Moved to Lusk and he went to work for Fay Hamilton and various other ranchers, including A. A. Spaugh of Manville and H. B. Card of Lost Springs. The Cranes moved to Hartville in 1943 to help their daughter Elaine Bright with her ranch. Later they moved to Fort Laramie.

In 1955 the Cranes moved to Lusk and retired. In 1975 Del and his wife celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. He was in the Michael Manor Nursing Home from 1969 until the Niobrara Nursing Home opened.

He was preceded in death by his wife and his daughter Elaine. His parents and one sister, Mae Harris, also preceded him in death.

Crane is survived by one son, Newton, of Lusk; two nephews, Elmer Harris of Casper and Bud Harris of California. Eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild also survive.

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