GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 6, 2001
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JOHN CRONK
HARLEM -- John Cronk, 93, a retired rancher, died of natural causes
Monday in Havre.
Services are 10 a.m. Saturday at
Harlem Presbyterian Church, with burial in Harlem
Cemetery. Edwards Funeral Home of
Chinook is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include a daughter, Kay Smith of Roosevelt, Utah; sons John
"Jack" Cronk
of Harlem and Richard Cronk of
Chinook; a sister, Norma Dickson of Chinook; eight
grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren.
His wife, Leona, died in 1996.
He also was preceded in death by his brother, Roger Cronk; and a sister,
Ruth Ekegren.
He was born June 4, 1908, in Great Falls, and raised on the Cronk Ranch
in Coburg.
He graduated from Chinook High School in 1927 and attended business
college in Spokane.
His father died in 1936, and he and his brother Roger operated as Cronk
Brothers until
incorporating as Cronk Ranch Inc. in
1964.
He married Leona Dolven on June 29, 1932, in Harlem.
John never had any desire to live anywhere else or follow any business
other than
ranching, in spite of its ups and
downs.
He was a 4-H leader for 20 years, served on the school board for 25
years and was
president of North Central
Stockgrowers in 1968-69. He was Director Emeritus of the
Blaine Bank in Chinook, a Shriner
and an elder of the Harlem Presbyterian Church.
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THE BLAINE COUNRY JOURNAL,
NEWS-OPINION
Wednesday, September 5, 2001
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JOHN CRONK
John Cronk, 93, died of natural causes Monday, September 3, 2001, at the
Northern Montana Care Center in Havre. Funeral services will be held on
Saturday, September 8, at 10 a.m. in the
Harlem Presbyterian Church with burial following in the Harlem Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.
John was born June 4, 1908 in
Great Falls to John and Anna (Rogers) Cronk. He was a true native Montanan and
never had a desire to live anywhere else or to follow any other business other
than ranching, in spite of its ups and downs. His father raised and sold
registered Percheron horses, so they always had good active horses to help with
the work. His father was also an early riser and it was not unusual to get the
horses in, fed and harnessed, eat breakfast, then wait for daylight to go to
work. Today, using the modern machinery, he often wondered how they ever got
any work done with horses. However, horses still have their place on many
ranches.
In addition to the regular
cow/calf and yearling operation, the Cronks sold and showed Herford bulls for
several years. To supplement the cattle business, they raised certified seed
potatoes for forty years and shipped seed potatoes all over the United States
and Canada. When their father passed away in 1936 John and brother Roger
operated together as the Cronk Brothers. In 1964 they incorporated as the Cronk
Ranch, Inc.
When John started school he rode horseback three miles to Coburg. In
1920 the family moved to Chinook for the school term and John graduated from
Chinook High School in 1927. The following year he attended business college in
Spokane.
On June 29, 1932, John married Leona Dolven in Harlem and settled on the
ranch. They had three children -- Jack, Kay and Richard. For 20 years John was
a 4-H leader and for 25 years he served on the school board. He was president of North Central
Stockgrowers in 1968 and 1969. He enjoyed serving and acting as chairman of the
Cattle Health and Evironmental committees of the Montana Stockgrowers. He was
also Director Emeritus of the Blaine Bank in Chinook, Shriner and elder of the Presbyterian Church in Harlem.
John and Leona felt that life had been good to them and they met some
wonderful people. They took time off to travel to Hawaii, Europe and all around
the United States. John said that you only live once, but if you live right
once is enough.
Survivors include his two sons Jack of Harlem and Richard of Chinook;
one daughter, Kay Smith of Roosevelt, UT;
grandchildren, Bret, Travis, Kyle and Suzanne Smith, Kaycee Cronk,
Jason, Trever and Shantell Cronk; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Norma
Dickson of Chinook; plus numerous nieces and nephews.
His wife, Leona, preceded him in death in 1996.
A00013B2001SP05
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HAVRE DAILY NEWS
Thursday, September 8, 2001
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JOHN CRONK
HARLEM - John Cronk, 93, died
Monday, Sept. 3, 2001, at a Havre Care Center from natural causes.
Funeral services will be held 10
a.m. on Saturdayat Harlem Presbyterian Church, with burial following in Harlem
Cemetery.
Cronk was born June 4, 1908 in
Great Falls to John and Anna (Rogers) Cronk.
He grew up on the family ranch and attended school at Coburg. The family
moved to Chinook in 1920 and he graduated from Chinook High School in 1927. He
attended business college for a year in Spokane, Wash.
He married Leona Dolven on June 29, 1932 in Harlem and they settled on
the ranch. Cronk and his brother took
over the ranch when their father died in 1936 ans incorporated it as Cronk
Brothers, Inc. in 1964.
Cronk was a 4-H leader 20 years,
school board member for 25, president of North Central Stockgrowers in 1968 and
1969, Director Emeritus of the Blaine Bank of Chinook, Shriner, elder of the
Presbyterian Church in Harlem. He enjoyed serving and acting as chairman of the
Cattle Health and Evironmental committees of Montana Stockgrowers.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Leona Cronk, 1996; brother Roger
Cronk; sister, Ruth Ekegren.
Survivors include his children, Jack Cronk of Harlem, Kay Smith of
Roosevelt, Utah; and Richard Cronk of Chinook; sister, Norma Dickson of Chinook;
eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren;
numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.
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THE SENTINEL
Wednesday, September 12, 2001
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JOHN CRONK
HARLEM - John Cronk, 93, died
Monday, Sept. 3, 2001, at a Havre Care Center from natural causes.
Cronk was born June 4, 1908 in
Great Falls to John and Anna (Rogers) Cronk.
He grew up on the family ranch and attended school at Coburg. The family
moved to Chinook in 1920 and he graduated from Chinook High School in 1927. He
attended business college for a year in Spokane, Wash.
He married Leona Dolven on June 29, 1932 in Harlem and they settled on
the ranch. Cronk and his brother took
over the ranch when their father died in 1936 ans incorporated it as Cronk
Brothers, Inc. in 1964.
Cronk was a 4-H leader 20 years,
school board member for 25, president of North Central Stockgrowers in 1968 and
1969, Director Emeritus of the Blaine Bank of Chinook, Shriner, elder of the
Presbyterian Church in Harlem. He enjoyed serving and acting as chairman of the
Cattle Health and Evironmental committees of Montana Stockgrowers.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Leona Cronk, 1996; brother Roger
Cronk; sister, Ruth Ekegren.
Survivors include his children, Jack Cronk of Harlem, Kay Smith of
Roosevelt, Utah; and Richard Cronk of Chinook; sister, Norma Dickson of
Chinook; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
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