Frieda Elizabeth Crane, age 95, passed away at her home in Ames on Sunday, December 15, 2013. She was born June 17, 1918 in Fulton, KS to Fred and Carrie Gump. Her family operated a farm in eastern Kansas, where she developed a strong work ethic and the solid core values she carried with her the rest of her life. She graduated from Fulton High School in 1936 and attended Fort Scott Junior College. Just prior to WWII, she left Kansas to work for the War Department in Washington, DC. She later worked for the Veterans Administration in Kansas City, MO and Des Moines, IA until 1957.

She was married to Robert (Bob) Crane, and together they owned and operated rental housing and Mobile Home Parks in Ames and Boone, IA. They had four children: Charles, John, Richard, and Judy. She enjoyed traveling, especially to National Parks, like Yellowstone, and to the Oregon coast. Her greatest joy was just being with her family and close friends.

She is survived by: three sons, Charles (Yan) of West Lafayette, IN, John of Ames, Richard (Kathleen) of Knoxville, TN; daughter Judy Crane of St. Paul, MN; granddaughter Melinda Crane of West Lafayette, IN; two nieces, Cecilia (Garth) Stephens of LaVerne, CA and Carla Hanson of Mooresville, NC; and her "second daughter" Lu Han (Liuzhan Yang) of Clayton, MO and their daughters Yihuan and Elise for whom Frieda was their "American grandma." She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a sister (Regna Fuchs), and a brother (Carl Gump).

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 19th at Grandon Funeral Center, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames, with a service following at 1:00 p.m.. Burial will be held at the Ames Municipal Cemetery. Online condolences may be directed to: www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com.