Edwin Crandall Jr.

Edwin "Sonny" Crandall Jr., age 71, of Herman, MN passed away Thursday, February 4, 2021 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton with Pastor Tim Shekleton officiating. Pianist will be Cheryl Shekleton with special music by Tressa Lanter.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time at the church.

Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, rural Herman, MN in the spring. Pallbearers will be Bryan Crandall, Gary Crandall, Kevin Crandall, Brett DeJong, Kelly Jastram and Tyler Stickland.

Edwin (Sonny) Dallas Crandall Jr was born on August, 30, 1949 in Wheaton, MN to Edwin Dallas Crandall Sr. and Grace (Itzen) Crandall. He was baptized in Eden Reformed Church in Herman, MN. Sonny attended Herman Norcross High School and graduated in 1968. After attending Herman Norcross Sonny pursued his education at Alexandria Technical College, graduated with a degree in Crop Production, and went on to Wahpeton Science and graduated with a degree in mechanics and crop science.

Sonny’s love for farming started early, by watching his father work day in and day out on a farm that he knew one day he would be able to call his.

Sonny worked at the Minn-Dak sugar beet pile every fall for approximately twenty years and farmed all his life on Crandall Farms where he cared for horses, then cattle, feeder pigs and farrowing pigs, all while grain farming.

Sonny and Kathy were married November 18, 1972 at the Eden Reformed Church in Herman, MN by Pastor Maynard Andersen. They resided on the Crandall family farm west of Herman where they were blessed with six beautiful children. Sonny enjoyed attending his kids sporting events and he put a lot of time in involving his children in FFA and 4H events as a part of his way in sharing his passion in farming. Sonny had a personal and unique relationship with each of his children and enjoyed teaching each of them the farming side of life. Sonny’s children especially remember taking trips out west to pick up feeder cattle and trucking livestock. Sonny was grateful for the time to teach the next generation of what life meant to him. Farming was his life, and he felt blessed to know that his accomplishments will live on with his son, taking over.

Sonny cherished his time with grandkids, from watching his granddaughters cook alongside his wife; taking his grandson, Brett, to sell pigs in Fergus in his earlier years; and taking side-by-side rides on the farm. In his own words, Sonny said he was blessed with many grandchildren in his life, with some living further away than others but starting in 2016, he was excited to have his grandchild Beau grow up in the same yard as his children did with their grandfather. Beau would visit Sonny and his wife Kathy every day and the joy Beau brought into his life is beyond words. Sonny said he would always cherish the memories he spent with Beau; from playing with farm toys inside or outside, playing karate, riding in tractors, combines, semis, vehicles, or taking long drives on the side-by-side as they, “would sit and listen to the corn grow.” Sonny said, “Teaching my son and grandson the legacy that I will leave behind has always been a dream of mine and I had that opportunity. These are the moments that will never be forgotten.”

Sonny’s hobbies included taking family vacations, watching racing in all forms, helping friends and family work on race cars and enjoying, “a cold one,” with his tomato juice.

After his wife Kathy passed away in June of 2020, Sonny found himself going on weekly lunch dates with his son Kevin, and made many trips over to KaCo’s to help his daughter-in-law with the business she and his wife started together.

Sonny was still hauling grain up until COVID-19 forced him into quarantine. He was a hard worker, could never sit still and was always determined. That determination helped him fight against COVID-19 for two months before he passed. Sonny was fortunate to harvest his last crop surrounded by those he knew would carry on his legacy.

Sonny Crandall was preceded in death by his wife Kathy Crandall; his parents Edwin Dallas Crandall Sr. and Grace Crandall; his two sisters Jeanette Eversole and Marlys Schoenrock; and granddaughter Peyton Bowman.

Sonny is survived by his children: Diane Dejong; Randy Crandall; Gary (Heather) Crandall; Pam Bowman; Kevin Crandall; Bryan (Courtney) Crandall; grandchildren: Brett and Amber (Tyler) DeJong; Shantelle, Samantha, Slayton and Summer Crandall; Cheyenne, Montanna, Skylar, Kaci and Wyatt Crandall; Kallie and Addison Bowman; MaKenzi Persons; and Beau Crandall; great-grandchild: Jordan; sister Sharon Stavrovich; and family friends: Wayne and Cathy Hervey; and Celeste Sherk.