Pearl Mae Crookshanks, 89, of Sheridan, formerly of Big Horn County and Hardin, Mont., died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, in Sheridan.

A memorial service will be 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Sugarland Ridge Assisted Living Center in Sheridan with Pastor Doug Goodwin officiating. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Wednesday in Bullis Funeral Chapel in Hardin. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery.

Born Oct. 4, 1918, in Birney, Mont., to Halvor and Karen Pedersen Kirkemo, she grew up and received her early education in Decker, Mont., graduating from Sheridan High School in 1937.

She worked at Eatons’ Ranch in Wolf and in 1939 for the Ben Franklin store in Hardin.

She moved to Washington, D.C., in 1940, where she was employed by the U.S. Army at the Pentagon. She retired in 1970 after 30 years of service and moved to Hardin until 2006, when she moved to Sheridan.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Alpha Rebekah Lodge No. 96, Hardin Senior Citizens, and the Big Horn County Museum and Historical Society.

She enjoyed gardening, and her passion was dogs and cats.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Christopher Kirkemo; and two sisters, Helen Tetschner and Gloria Robbins.

Survivors include a brother, Harold Kirkemo of Belgrade, Mont.; and numerous nieces and a nephew.

Memorials may benefit the Dog and Cat Shelter, 84 East Ridge Road, Sheridan, WY 82801 or the Big Horn County Historical Museum in Hardin.

The Sheridan Press - September 29, 2008