Gertrude Crouch of St. Ignace was a homemaker who helped her husband operate the Legion Hut on State Street for many years. She also worked at the former Nicolet Hotel in St. Ignace, where she met her husband, Bernard.

Mrs. Crouch died at the age of 87 Monday, January 29, 2007, at Hospice House in Cheboygan.

She was born to Nestor and Lempi (nee Kangassalo) Hill April 15, 1919, in Kenneth, a former logging community off M-123. She was baptized in Kenneth, and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Allenville in 1934. She was graduated from LaSalle High School in St. Ignace in 1937.

She and Bernard Crouch were married October 18, 1941, in St. Ignace, and they recently celebrated 65 years of marriage.

Mrs. Crouch was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Ignace.

She is survived by her husband, Bernard; three sons and their families, Terry Crouch and Chong Ae of Enterprise, Alabama, Dan and Stephanie Crouch of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, and Brian and Lisa Crouch of Traverse City; two daughters and their families, Kathleen and Wilbur "Pud" Goudreau of Northville, and Bonita Meade of Traverse City; one sister, Sylvia Carlson of Scottsdale, Arizona; 17 grandchildren, and seven greatgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, Bill Crouch in 1997; a daughter, Penny King in 1998; a grandson, Robert Paul Goudreau in 1998; a son-in-law, John Meade in 2005, and her siblings, Vieno, Toivo, Urho "Finny," and John Hill.

Services were Friday, February 2, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Ignace. Pastor Tari Stage-Harvey officiated. Pallbearers were Terry, Dan, and Brian Crouch, and Neil Hill.

Burial was in Lakeside Cemetery in St. Ignace. Dodson Funeral Home of St. Ignace assisted the family with arrangements.