Everett Rodger Crandall

Early Thursday morning of May 30, 2024, Everett Rodger Crandall, 82, peacefully passed away while in hospice care at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga, MN., after a lengthy battle with heart and kidney disease.

Everett was born on the Crandall farm (located 4.5 to 5 miles off Hwy 34, West of Hwy 71 from the town of Park Rapids) to Eddie and Leola (Splittstoeser) Crandall on March 1, 1942. He was the 6th child and their 4th son. As all their children did, he helped on the farm with the various animals, gardening, chopping wood, and he could cook the best homemade egg noodles for chicken soup. When asked how he learned to cook the egg noodles, he answered proudly, “Lena and I would make the recipes from mom’s Betty Crocker cookbook.” He had various pets, even a skunk! Everett often talked fondly of going to school in a one-room little schoolhouse when he began school and middle school age continued to Park Rapids High School, where he graduated in 1962.

After graduating he would take various jobs to help. One job led to meeting his wife, Twyla “Johnnie” Jean Hejl, while working on her father’s farm in Amenia, ND, with his younger brother Dano, and although, Twyla already had an 8–9-year son named Danny, Everett still decided to propose and on August 14, 1966, Everett and Twyla were married in Moorhead, MN by the justice of the peace. When asked why? He said, “Twyla did not want to have her blood drawn for the requirement of a North Dakota Marriage License, MN did not require a blood draw, and boy was her mom terribly upset with us because she wanted to announce our wedding in the local North Dakota newspaper and have a proper wedding.” They then rented a small house in Fargo, ND. And about a year and a month later had their first child, Kathryn Ann (Sept 1967), and two weeks shy of another year had their second child, Kelly Lynn (Sept 1968). Shortly after giving birth to their second child, Everett and Twyla decided to move to Castle Rock, MN, renting a small, but slightly bigger house than in Fargo. By Nov 1970 Twyla gave birth to their third child Susan Jeanette (Nov 1970). About a year or so after Susan’s birth, Everett moved his family again to Cannon Falls, MN. While there, she gave birth to her fourth child Amy Iola (July 1973) and the fifth and final child, their son Douglas Wesley (June 1974) Living in Cannon Falls for another 3 years after their son’s arrival, Everett moved his family to Farmington, MN to be closer to his work. They lived in Farmington until 1988, when sadly their marriage ended with divorce. It took many years of healing on both sides, but eventually they came together for the sake of their children and were very great friends, often inviting and attending invitations to holiday celebrations. Everett moved to Randolph MN, while there dated and proposed to his new love Kelly Klier, although never officially marrying they remained together for 33 years until his passing.

After Everett retired in 2006, he moved one last time. He always told his family that when he retired, he always wanted to go back to the Crandall farm where he was born and raised, and he did just that until an unfortunate heart attack in March 2020 forced him to move from the farm and into the town of Park Rapids.

Everett was a jack of all trades, but to earn a living for his fast-growing family, he worked many jobs before he married, but after he married, he started at the Standard Oil shop in Farmington, MN. Not making the money to maintain a growing family and his eldest daughter took ill... he needed a job more reliable with benefits. He found his job at Centel Telephone Company as a telephone lineman. He would also do other jobs within the company when the telephone cable was not being pulled or placed under the ground. He would often call Twyla on days he was tasked with making sure the phone line he just fixed was working. Other times, climbing the telephone poles to fix the line from there. However, after falling from the pole with few minor injuries, his boss never asked him to climb a pole again but tasked him with fixing and collecting the coins from phone booths. Everett said he did not mind that one bit!

Everett had many talents and interests as well... he taught himself to play acoustic guitar, and learned to play his favorite country singer songs, Hank Williams, Sr., he also learned some other country artists songs, but his favorite was Hank Williams. He often would have his children sit around him to practice singing and playing, he referred to his children as his “best little audience.” He loved playing guitar with his brothers (who also learned to play as he did) and with several guitar playing friends. Everett often attended “Amateur Night” at the Clover Leaf Bar in West St. Paul, having his daughter Kathryn sing back up for him (and his friends) during the hours they allowed children in to enjoy listening to the bands during family hours 7pm-9pm, and by 9pm all children must leave. Everett enjoyed fixing old cars and trucks in his spare time, taking frequent trips to Park Rapids to help his mom and dad on weekends or vacations from work, he like to fish with his children and grandkids during picnics at the lake, he also would attend his grandkids school programs when he knew about them and had the time to ask for the time off. He loved to deer hunt with his brothers, usually going to his older brother Otto house in Mahnomen, MN. When his son Doug was old enough to learn to use a gun safely it was ‘one’ of Everett’s proudest moments when he was finally able to take his son deer hunting with him and his uncles in the hunt. Everett loved his beloved dogs throughout the years, but his biggest buddy was Jessie, a black Pomeranian.

Everett survived by children: daughter’s Kathryn (Dana Davis) of Oakdale, MN., Kelly (Joseph Richardson) of Woodbury, MN., Susan of St. Paul, MN., Amy of Oakdale, MN., and son Douglas of St. Paul, MN. Grandchildren: (Step-Grandchildren): Shane Walker of North Field, MN., Danny Hejl Jr. of Minneapolis, MN., Shane Hejl of Minneapolis, MN, Amanda Hejl of Indiana. Danielle Herzberg of Oakdale, MN., Aran Anderson of St. Paul, MN., Robert Strunk of Cannon Falls, MN., Kira Strunk of Maplewood, MN., Jacob of Still Water, MN., Isabelle Crandall-Richarson of Woodbury, MN., Christian Crandall of St. Paul, MN., Arthur Crandall of Oakdale, MN., Kara Tribitt of Farmington, MN., Kyle Tribitt of Farmington, MN., Ashely Mussehl of Chanhassen, MN., Rodger Crandall of Apple Valley, MN. Everett has numerous great grandchildren ALL of whom he loved and cherished dearly. His surviving siblings: Dano Crandall of Park Rapids, MN., Fred (Else) Crandall of Park Rapids, MN., and his baby sister: Lena Martell of Menahga, MN., and his fiancé of 33 yrs., Kelly Klier of Park Rapids, MN.

Everett preceded in death by his parents: Eddie B. and Leola Crandall of Park Rapids, MN., Siblings: Harry Crandall of Washington, Louisa Buckley of Menahga, MN., Ellen Crane of Park Rapids, MN., Francis Crandall of Arizona, Otto Crandall of Mahnomen, MN., Sister-in-law: Annette Crandall of Arizona, Nephews: David Crandall of Roseau, MN and Harold (Joe) Knutson, Jr. of Park Rapids, MN. Niece: April Buckley of Park Rapids, MN., Great niece: Lisa Marie Knutson of Park Rapids, MN., Ex-Wife: Twyla Crandall of St. Paul, MN., Stepson: Danny Hejl of St. Paul, MN.

Memorial: Per Everett’s wishes…his memorial will be held at graveside at the Crandall Cemetery at 1:00pm on August 10, 2024, directly after will be a reception at the Crandall Farm… all are welcomed to attend. In lieu of flowers, Everett’s children are asking for donations to help with the purchase of his headstone.

A message from the children of Everett Crandall would like to ask for forgiveness due to the delay of our dad’s memorial, the delay is due to several unforeseen serious circumstances had happen after his passing and was not in ‘our’ control, we had no choice but to wait a bit longer than wanted. We appreciate your understanding. We are asking in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Jones-Pearson Funeral Home to help with memorial expenses, this would be appreciated.

Sincerely with love,

Kathryn, Kelly, Susan, Amy, and Douglas