BETTY MAE CRONA, 84

LAKEWOOD — Betty Mae Crona, 84, of Monte Vista, Colo., lost her battle with osteoporosis and Parkinson’s on June 23 at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood.

She was born May 26, 1928 in Canton, Ill., to John and Agnes (Stambough) Frew, and spent her childhood years in Canton. She moved to Charleston, Ill. to enter Charleston High School, graduating in 1946.

Following graduation, she enrolled in Eastern Illinois University at Charleston. She graduated from there in 1950 with her Bachelor’s Degree in elementary physical education. On May 31, 1953, she married Ed Crona of Monte Vista.

In August of that year she began teaching in the Monte Vista school system. She spent 30 years teaching elementary physical education. One week each June she would volunteer to be a counselor at the Beaver Creek Youth Camp. She also taught youth swimming lessons at the Ski Hi Pool and taught adult lifeguard classes.

At 5 a.m. every day, she would open the pool for swimming, exercise and lap swimming. Betty furthered her education at Adams State College in Alamosa, often riding her bike from Monte Vista to Alamosa for her classes.

After her retirement from teaching, Betty did much work for the Methodist Church, for a while acting as the church secretary. She was active with the United Methodist women, traveling to meetings and conferences. The highlight of her time with the United Methodist women was a trip to St. Louis for the national conference in 2009.

In later years, her goal was to visit the National Parks. The highlight of her travel was a trip to Alaska with her niece and special friend, Janet Segler. She loved the outdoors, camping, hiking, biking and swimming. She was an avid bowler, receiving many trophies at the state bowling tournament. She especially loved bowling with her family.

Her parents, three brothers and two sisters preceded her in death.

Survivors include her husband, Ed Crona, of Monte Vista; daughter, Tina Crona of Longmont, Colo.; sons, Tod (Jennifer) Crona of Grapevine, Texas and Brad (Nancy) Crona of Longmont, Colo.; brother, Glen (JoAnn ) Frew and family; granddaughter, Brittany Crona and grandson, Peter Crona, both of Longmon; nephews, Spencer (Dana) Crona of Aurora, Colo., and Jeff Crona of Drake, Colo.; nieces, Anna and Kelsey Crona of Drake; and her niece and special friend Janet Segler of Sparland, Ill., along with numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews.

Cremation was selected and a memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday July 7, at the Monte Vista First United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers contributions are suggested to the Monte Vista First United Methodist Church Historical Restoration fund, Beaver Creek Youth Camp or a charity of your choice in care of Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista, which has been entrusted with the arrangements.