Crystal Meyer, age 90, of Marathon, Iowa, died on Thursday, December 28, 2006, at the Longhouse Residence in Spencer, Iowa.

Funeral service will be held Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Marathon United Methodist Church, with Reverend David Schumann officiating. Burial will be in Poland Township Cemetery at Marathon. The Sliefert Funeral Home of Marathon is in charge of the arrangements.

Friends may call from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 1, 2007 at the Marathon United Methodist Church in Marathon, where the family will be present.

Crystal Halverson was born on May 2, 1916, on a farm near Linn Grove, Iowa, to Helmer and Marie (Anderson) Halverson. She was baptized in the Sioux Valley Lutheran Church at Rembrandt and confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids. Crystal received her education in Sioux Rapids and was a 1935 graduate of the Sioux Rapids High School. Following graduation, she worked for many people assisting with their housework. She was then employed by Simonson Manufacturing as a press operator for 3 years. Crystal then worked for the Paul Schmidt grocery store in Sioux Rapids.

She was united in marriage to Elgie “Leo” Meyer on May 24, 1949, at Jackson, Minnesota. They made their home in Marathon where Leo operated the Meyer Brothers garage. Leo and Crystal enjoyed camping, traveling, and playing cards. She was a member of the Marathon United Methodist Church where she held many offices. Crystal also belonged to the Rebekah Lodge, the Ladies Auxiliary, the Stormy Waters camping group and Canasta Club.

Crystal is survived by her step-daughter and her husband, Betty and Cliff Hansen of Marathon, Iowa; her grandchildren: Dawn Hansen and her fiancée, Jim Valenti, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida., Brian Bland of St. Paul, Minnesota, Brenda Bland of Ruthven, Iowa, Shawn and Dan Purcell of Waukee, Iowa, and Candace and Tobin Smith of Jefferson, Iowa; nine great grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; two nieces: Sharon Nielson of Greeley, Colorado and Carole Martin of Iowa City, Iowa; three cousins; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Leo, on August 15, 2005, one granddaughter: Jeanne Thompson, a sister-in-law, and two brothers.

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