Obituary of Alice Crosby (Noordhoek)

A Visitation for Alice Crosby, age 100, of Spirit Lake will be held on Thursday, January 25, 2024 from 1:00-3:00pm at the Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. A Time of Remembrance will take place at 2:00pm at the funeral home. Interment will be at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Okoboji.

Alice Crosby was born in Matlock Iowa on October 14th 1923, the oldest child of Tracia (Da Jager) and Leonard Noordhoek. At age four,along with her younger sister, Gertrude, and baby brothers, Mark and Bill, the family moved to a farm NW of Spirit Lake.  

Alice’s life was lived with love, a strong faith and a devotion to family and a farm girl to the end. She enjoyed traveling, gardens, canning, bird watching, chickens, geese, cats and a flurry of activity surrounding the beasts and gardens. 

As a child Alice loved fishing and homesteading with her family, raising chickens and helping scrape out a living on the newly plowed prairie. Alice was an amateur painter producing beautiful still life and her favorite subject, the Amish and landscapes. As a young lady she began working for Mathews General Store downtown Spirit Lake until her marriage to Harlod Crosby in 1962.  

Alice was well known in the Methodist Church. Alice enlightened third graders in Sunday School for twenty-two years and was also an active member of the women’s circle, hosting weddings and other church events for over forty years. A faithful and pious woman, Alice’s faith and dedication to the church never wavered. 

Alice Noordhoek and Harold Crosby were introduced in the winter of 1961 and three months later on March 21, 1962 they were married. Alice always claimed it was true love at first sight. It was. The couple’s marriage was soon followed by two children, Allen and Elizabeth. Her life as a wife and mother was filled with sewing, cooking, gardening, fair entries and caring for her family.  

After the couple retired Alice and Harold loved to be with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren and of course, gambling away their inheritance, a nickel at a time. They boarded every Deadwood bus and took every package that included a free buffet. They cherished wonderful chats with friends as “someone else does the driving” mom would say, with a wily smile.  

After the death of her dear husband Harold in 2008 Alice stayed on the Crosby family farm living with her sister and brother until their deaths and a fall that incapacitated her. Alice came back to her home and lived there with the care of her daughter until her passing. Alice passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024. We will forever treasure the memories and love Alice freely gave to all around her. 

Alice is preceeded in death by just about everyone! I mean she was 100! She is survived by her children, Allen Crosby and Elizabeth Schreiner; granddaughters, Stephanie Perez, Jazz Schreiner and a great-granddaughter, Alice; along with many wonderful nieces and nephews. Blessings to all that have loved and cared for this special lady and for all the years we were given with her. 

We would like to thank her neighbors, friends and family for giving her the gift of love and joy. 

All our Love, gratitude, and admiration, 

Her Family