Obituary for Mineva Crank

Mineva Ella Crank

January 25, 1926 – August 17, 2021

Mineva Ella (Balzer) Crank reunited with her loving husband S.A. on Tuesday August 17th, 2021 at the age of 95. A Celebration of Life will be Wednesday, August 25th at 2:00 PM at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel followed by a graveside service at the Newkirk cemetery. Those unable to attend the Funeral Ceremony, may attend virtually on the Trout Funeral Home website, www.troutfuneralhome.com and click on the live-stream or toolbar icon on the top right corner after 1:45 PM.

Mineva was born January 25th 1926, to Robert and Lourene (Taylor) Balzer in the family’s farmhouse outside of Newkirk. She was the second of three children. Older brother Vance Balzer and younger sister Winona (Balzer) Reed both preceded her in death. She attended Newkirk schools graduating in 1943. Upon graduation she moved to Oakland CA and went to work for the Grumman Aircraft Corp. doing her part in the war effort. Thrilled by having a steady income she was excited by the prospect of being able to buy a second pair of shoes only to learn that leather was being rationed in order to be used by the military.

After the war she returned to Newkirk where she caught the eye of a young navy airman by the name of S.A. Crank. The couple was joined in matrimony on July 20th, 1947 and spent the next 71 years in loving devotion to each other and their family. To this union was born four children, Donella Sue, Opal Lynnette, Stephen Aaron, and Timothy Lee.

Mineva worked several years at Bill Southern Chevrolet and then went to work for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service from which she retired in 1993.

S.A. and Mineva purchased the family farm in 1994 and went about the task of restoring the farm house and enjoying their retirement and pursuing her love of gardening.

Mineva was preceded in death by one son, Timothy Lee Crank and her husband S.A. Crank. She is survived by daughters Donella Hodgkins and husband Russ of Amherst NH, Lynnette Ainsworth and husband Donny of Oklahoma City, son Steve Crank and wife Timilyn of Ponca City and Daughter in Law Susan Crank of Edmond. She has ten grandchildren and 15 Great Grandchildren as well as numerous nephews, nieces and other family members.

The family welcomes visitors to their home at 3900 N. Pleasant View in Newkirk on the evening of Tuesday August 24th 2021.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mineva’s name to Autism Speaks, 1060 State Road, Second Floor
Princeton, NJ 08540 or the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13TH Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104.

Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home