Margaret Crouse

Margaret Ruth Crouse was born to Clinton and Barbara Grossman Crouse on March 23, 1949, in Garden City, Kansas. She died March 12, 2024, at her home in Chadron, Nebraska, at the age of 74 years, 11 months and 18 days.

Margaret grew up on the family farm in the Plymell Community south of Garden City, working and enjoying a rural farm life. She was active in her community; with church, school, Grange and 4-H activities having importance. Music was an integral part of those activities. At the 1968 4-H Fair, she was crowned the Finney County Wheat Queen.

Her first educational experiences were at the local school, Plymell Elementary. She attended Abe Hubert Junior High in Garden City before graduating from Garden City High School with the Class of 1967. Education was to remain a major focus for the rest of her life.

Margaret attended Kansas State University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1971. She earned her master's degree from Oklahoma State University in 1979 followed by her PhD from OSU in 1984.

Margaret taught in Anthony High School and in Chaparral High School in southern Kansas before being employed by Chadron State College as a home economics instructor in 1979. She remained at CSC, serving in teaching, administrative and leadership positions until her retirement in 2015. She was especially pleased to be asked to be the commencement speaker for the Chadron State College Class of 2015.

But retirement didn't end her association with Chadron State College. After retirement, she continued to shoulder Higher Learning Commission, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, teaching and administration responsibilities for the college. Finally in January, 2020, she accepted a final official position with CSC, a six-month position as the interim dean of professional studies and applied sciences.

At the time of her death, Margaret was serving on the Board of Governors of Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and as the president of the Nebraska Community College Association. She took pride in being able to continue to work in the field of education. From her earliest days as a first grader in August of 1955, until the present, Margaret spent 70 years of her life involved in some aspect of education.

Travel was something Margaret enjoyed. Trips to Greece, Ireland, Germany and Israel were especially remembered for the sights, sounds, foods and the many friends and relatives who enjoyed those trips with her.

A long-time member of the Chadron United Methodist Church, she enjoyed being part of the church choir and singing the occasional solo or duet. But even more she enjoyed being part of the children's ministry of the church. She developed children's messages for morning worship services and worked with the summer vacation Bible school program. She shared her enjoyment of these ministries with family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her grandparents, Forrest and Orra Covey Grossman and Emmett and Edith Goddard Crouse; nephew, Jody Crouse and special friend, Pat Colgate.

She is survived by her brother, Forrest Crouse (Kerma) of Jewell, Kansas; sister, Celia Krug (Steve) of Spearman, Texas, nieces, Michelle Riddle (Blue Springs, Missouri) and Rachel Crouse (Jewell, Kansas); great- nephew, Tamarick Riddle (Kansas City, Missouri), plus cousins and friends.

The family suggests memorials to the Chadron United Methodist Church or the Moody-Crouse Scholarship Fund at Chadron State College.