Retha Crounk

Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Retha May Crounk, was born in Blanca, Colorado on May 16, 1937. She is the daughter of Harold Winfred Parkhurst and Ila Sego. She was one of three children. Her brother and sister both preceded her in death.

Childhood:

In recalling her childhood, Retha had such fond memories of her mother Ila.  She always referred to her as a saint, they were very close. Her mother grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she also raised her children.  Her father and mother worked a large ranch and farm together. Retha had chores to do such as milking the cow, collecting eggs, weeding the garden and helping to preserve the family food storage. She grew up with parents that had lived through the Great Depression. As a result, they learned to be very thrifty and resourceful. These valuable traits would pass down to their children: Shirly, Retha and Dean. Ila Retha’s mother would sew underwear from flour sacks for the children. She would do this on a Singer foot peddle sewing machine. This would be the very same one that Retha would learn to sew on. Retha grew up in a home with no electricity, so Cole oil lamps and gas lanterns were the only light they had on the farm. The only heat they had was a Cole stove in the living room, and a wood cooking range with a reservoir to heat water. This was where Retha would learn to cook. Modern plumbing and running water were luxuries, and the old farmhouse had no insulation, so sometimes their water would freeze overnight inside the house.

School days:

Retha went to a very small school. Most of the time she wanted to stay at home and help her mother. Ila allowed it as long as her grades were good, and they always were. Retha always worked at looking her best; even in the first grade she went to school wearing bright red lip stick. The teacher had to send her home to wash it off as they did not have running water in the schoolhouse. Later Retha became a cheerleader along with her sister Shirley.

Retha met Lester Crounk at a school dance at Blanca High School. She was quite taken with him. She always loved his eyes and eyelashes. She dated a couple of people but no one measured up to Lester.  Retha graduated early at the age of seventeen so that she could marry Lester and go with him to Guam. The Navy stationed them there for two years.

Occupations:

Retha was very accomplished at many things. She was well known for her gifts in the arts. She was a professional interior designer, baker; cake designer, seam stress and chef, all of which she shared liberally with anyone who had a need or wanted to learn. She also used these talents for her family and friends. She could truly make something from nothing and it would always be so beautiful.

She was so talented at interior design that the Denver Hilton offered her a contract.  She considered it, but ultimately decided that she needed to be with her family. For extra money she would baby-sit and make custom drapes and cakes for clients, all while making sure her family was well taken care of.  As if this was not enough, she kept all of the books for the family business (Les’ Excavating).

As the family matured she went into insurance sales and real estate, but her soul would find its calling with the Denver Temple. She began as a volunteer but they quickly took her in as one of staff. She began in clothing, then progressed as a file clerk, and finally retired as an ordinance clerk. She genuinely spent her whole life serving other people.

Health:

Retha was always on the go and just never stopped. She could out work anyone and do anything. Many said that she had the energy of three people. She took care of everyone, including her father and mother as they became older and in need. The only time she was ever in the hospital was to give birth to her children. Her health did not change until she began having heart trouble in her mid-seventies.

Family:

Lester and Retha returned to Colorado after Lester left the Navy. They moved to Denver and lived in the metro area for 40 years.

Retha had four daughters: Debbie, Tammy, Lauri and Marina. All would agree that she was a wonderful mother. She always took such great care of her family. The home was immaculate and the meals gourmet. She would sew clothes for her children and alter the ones purchased from the store. She gave each of her daughters a beautiful wedding where she made the clothing, decorated the wedding cakes, and catered it all herself. She taught all of her daughters how to cook, clean, work, and run a household on a budget. She always attended church with the family on Sunday and many days throughout the week. She held many callings in the church as a relief society president, primary president, Sunday school teacher, primary teacher, young woman's leader, and a stake missionary. Her church callings were many, and all received her whole-hearted approach.

Grandmother:

Retha’s grandchildren all called her Granny, and they loved to spend time with her. She always had fun things for them to do. She made a storage shed into a playhouse that had old dresses, jewelry, pots and pans. She kept board games and children’s magazines, coloring books and crayons. They all adored her gourmet cooking. At holiday dinners you could see little hands carefully sneaking up from under the table grabbing her homemade bread sticks, and then disappearing just as quickly as they came. She would always laugh and whisper, “Look at this”. She has three grandsons, nine granddaughters, and as of 2019 she has 13 great grandchildren and counting.

Last Years:

All changed in August of 2014.  Retha complained of being very dizzy at times. She had lost a lot of weight and her energy just was not the same. She did not enjoy doing as many of the hobbies that once filled her busy day. Family urged her to go to the doctor, but she said that she had an appointment scheduled out a few days and would wait until them. Once she got to her appointment on August 15, the doctor sent her straight to the hospital. Her heart was failing her. Her heart stopped twice and a pacemaker was put in her. She was never the same after that.

Lester and Retha moved to Grand Junction July 6, 2015 to be closer to family. She continued to decline and was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. One evening she tripped on the coffee table, twisting her ankle and bruising her knee. No longer being able to walk on her own she was moved to Hospice for care. There she stabilized enough to be sent to a nursing home but not enough to go back home. Retha needing 24 hour nursing care remained at the home for six months until her death.