Cleo Crum

Cleo M. Crum, 84, of North Platte, passed away January 10, 2026, at Great Plains Health.

Cleo was born December 11, 1941, in Platte, South Dakota, to Ernest Merchen and Edna (Heese) Merchen. She attended Platte High School in South Dakota before moving to Denver in 1957.

On March 18, 1960, she married Donald Crum in Denver, Colorado. The couple shared many years together and were blessed with three sons: Donald, Earl, and Jack.

Cleo was a devoted homemaker and later worked alongside her husband in their business ventures. She helped manage the books for Donald's greenhouse work and later assisted when the couple purchased and operated the Elm's Motel and D & M Service in Ogallala in 1977.

An avid reader, Cleo amassed a personal library of more than 3,000 books and read widely throughout her life. She enjoyed bowling, crocheting, and making blankets for family and friends. She loved music from the 1950s and 1960s, especially Elvis Presley, and was a passionate sports fan, cheering faithfully for the Huskers, Denver Broncos, and Atlanta Braves. Cleo was also very patriotic, and when she had the opportunity to meet a service member in uniform, she always went to speak with them and thank them for their service to the country.

Cleo enjoyed traveling, especially motorcycle trips with family, visiting destinations across the country, including Hawaii, Washington state, Michigan, and the Smoky Mountains. She valued time spent with her children, grandchildren, and extended family and cherished the friendships she built over the years they spent in Ogallala. Most recently, Cleo had been making her home with Jack and Lisa in North Platte while she fought a courageous battle with cancer.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Crum; a granddaughter, Amanda; and her sister, Wanda Holden.

Survivors include her sons, Donald Crum of Ogallala, Earl Crum of Ogallala, and Jack (Lisa) Crum of North Platte; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her brother, Arvan (Paula) Merchen of Littleton; her sister, Kathy Merchen of Ovid, Colorado; and many other relatives and friends.

In lieu of plants and flowers, a memorial has been established in Cleo's memory for later designation.

An informal celebration of life will be held on Friday, February 13, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala. No inurnment is planned.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.