Maurice Krance

Maurice "Maury" Krance, 80, Bismarck, died on September 18, 2004, at SCCI Hospital in Mandan from complications due to a stroke. He suffered for 58 days before God took him into his arms. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 10:00 AM at Church of the Ascension, 1825 S. 3rd Street, Bismarck, with the Rev. Marvin Klemmer officiating. Burial will be at North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery with military honors provided by VFW Post #1326. A vigil service will be held at 6:00 PM on Monday at Eastgate Funeral Service. There will be no visitation. Maury was born on November 4, 1923, in Dickinson, North Dakota, the son of Joseph and Mary Krance. He was educated at Dickinson High, Chicago, and St. Louis. He married Lillian "Lil" Splichal on April 23, 1946, in Dickinson. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Mandan in 1996 with a public reception. Maury worked for Binek Coal Company, Miller Electric, Mann's Auto Supply as their machine shop service manager, West Plains Electric as a lineman and Member Services Director, and the North Dakota Rural Electric Apprenticeship and Safety Program as their Director for fifteen years before he retired in 1985. Maury was a whiz at fixing anything from autos to washing machines. Tasks that seemed hopeless to the rest of us were merely stimulating to him. He actually thrived on solving those kinds of problems. His whole family counted on him to help them, whether it be wiring a basement, fixing a tractor, or building a kennel. He took pride in learning how to do things. Even as he aged and his family felt he needed to take it easy, he refused to take up the rocking chair. This man embodied the ideal of the work ethic in the way he lived his life and, through his example, he taught his children the value of industry. He served on numerous boards and organizations in Dickinson, Mandan, and state-wide. He was treasurer of the Dickinson Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in establishing Dickinson's first daycare center as their President. He was also Chairman of Mandan's Red Cross Chapter in 1974 and 1975, and qualified many for CPR training. He also taught carburetion and auto tune-up to numerous mechanics in western North Dakota while employed at Mann's Auto Supply. He was also qualified as an Occupational Hearing Conservationist. He served in World War II as a demolition specialist in the army combat engineers. Maury was a frequent judge for 4-H projects and exhibits. He attended a Dale Carnegie Course in 1971 and won all awards except one. He also attended an H&R Block tax preparation course. As a young man, Maury was in the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked on the stonework at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora. Maury had numerous talents and shared them with others. He also had several inventions. One, a retractable wheel pontoon boat, was patented and won first place in the North Dakota Inventor's Congress in Dickinson in 1965. It was later manufactured in Minnesota. Maury is survived by his wife, Lillian "Lil" Krance of Bismarck; his daughter and son-in-law, Lynette and Arnold Lahren of Washburn; his sons and daughters-in-law, James and Judy Krance of St. Anthony, North Dakota, and Roger and Kathy Krance of Mandan; and his two precious grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kolton Krance. Maury's parents and only brother, John Krance, passed away several years ago. We will miss our dad, husband, and grandpa - words cannot tell. He will remain a gentle presence in our hearts and minds for the rest of our lives. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials to Church of the Ascension.

Maurice Krance

November 4, 1923 - September 18, 2004