Adrian Lowell Crance, 86, died June 19, 2010 at the Fort Meade VA Medical Center Hospice after a short battle with lung cancer.

Adrian was born 8/11/23 to Gilbert and Hattie Crance at their home on the Circle C Ranch 8 miles west of Timber Lake, SD. He attended Spick country school through the eighth grade, after which time his help was required at home to run the family ranch. On October 25, 1942, Adrian was drafted into United States Army at the age of 19. While in Germany during WWII, he rose to the ranks of Temporary Master Sergeant. In 1946 he received an honorable discharge from the Army as a Permanent Staff Sergeant, but chose to stay in the Army Reserves. On October 10, 1950, he married Carol June Schaeffer at the First Baptist Church in Timber Lake, SD. Two weeks later, Adrian went off to fight in the Korean War. After the war, they lived on Adrian's land near his parent's ranch, raising cattle and sheep.

In 1961, after the death of his mother, Hattie Crance, they sold the farm and moved to town. Adrian then established himself in the construction business - working on road construction, building bridges, and carpentry work. From 1965 on, the Crance family traveled all over South Dakota with the construction business - first to Phillip and then to McIntosh, Madison, Alpena, Armour, Murdo, Bison, Sturgis, Redfield, Ft. Pierre, Kimball and finally settled permanently in Sturgis again in 1976. Upon his retirement, Adrian kept busy in his wood working shop - taking great enjoyment in making toys for his grandchildren and sharpening his mechanical skills.

Adrian is survived by his wife, Carol of Sturgis, three sons - Adrian (Julie) of Spokane, WA, Roy (Ann) of Timber Lake, SD and Dale (Patty) of Phoenix, AZ, and one daughter, Julie (Mike) Cameron of Brookings, SD; 15 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; one sister, Doris Wine of Coon Rapids, MN, and two brothers, LaVerne of Sioux City, IA and Neil of Eugene, OR. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter and a son-in-law, Janice and Maynard Hanson, and granddaughter, Cassandra Crance.

Visitation will be noon until 9 p.m. on Monday , June 21, 2010 at Kinkade Funeral Home, Sturgis with the family present from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at First Baptist Church, Sturgis with Brother O.C. Summers officiating. Burial follows at the Timber Lake Cemetery, Timber Lake, SD, at 3:00 p.m.

Memorial has been established with Hospice at Veterans Administration Medical Center, Fort Meade, SD. The family wishes to express a special thank-you to all of the staff on Ward E at Fort Meade for the wonderful care that Adrian received during his stay.