Crystal Dougherty

CRYSTAL LAMAE DOUGHERTY was born October 5, 1934, in Rock County, MN to Oluf and Gladys (Lee) Nelson.  She attended first grade in country school, District #38, and the remaining years at Hills, MN, graduating in the class of 1952.  Following high school graduation, she attended Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.  She taught fifth and sixth grade in Sutherland, Iowa, for two years and then fourteen years in Worthington, MN.

Crystal married Erich Fuhrmannek, a German refugee, on June 29, 1958.  Erich had come to America in 1956 and as a tailor, eventually became part-owner of Bishop’s Clothing, Worthington, MN.  Their two children, Gretchen and Andrea were born while they lived in Worthington.  They moved to Pipestone, MN, in 1970 where Erich taught tailoring at the Pipestone Area Vocational Technical School.

During those years, Crystal was very active in Girl Scouting—as troop leader for her daughters’ troops, as well as Service Unit Chairman for local and area girl scouts.  She was an active member at First Lutheran Church in Pipestone, serving in many capacities—as president of the women’s organization, Circle leader, Educational  Secretary and library board member.  She was also president of the AAUW (American Association of University Women) and a Current Events Club.

In 1976 she and her husband purchased Timberlane Resort on Lake Ida near Alexandria, MN.  She and her daughters spent summers there with Erich coming up from Pipestone on weekends.

Erich died on February 3, 1983.  The following year, Crystal and the girls moved to Alexandria.  She then decided to go to the Alexandria Vocational Technical Institute and graduated from the Professional Office Management class in 1985.  She worked for the Northern Lights Library Network for about a year and then was hired at Calvary Lutheran Church as office manager—a job she held for 17 1/2 years and loved.  She married Keith Dougherty, who was then treasurer of Calvary, on October 1, 1988.

She loved to travel, and she and Keith visited many wonderful and interesting places abroad: Alaska, Hawaii, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, England , Wales, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria,  Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, New Zealand, Australia, and both East and West Germany.

Crystal passed away on October 23, 2021, at Grand Arbor in Alexandria, MN at the age of 87.  She is survived by her husband, Keith Dougherty; daughter, Andrea (Mike) Kloubec, Buffalo, MN; two sisters: Marcie Muckey, Spencer, IA and Dianne (Dennis) Van Goor, Sioux Falls, SD; four grandchildren, Amber Johnson, Erich Johnson, Kyle Spaeth, and Ryan Spaeth; two step-children, Todd (Kim) Dougherty and Anne Garret; three step grandchildren, Scott, Sean, and Janae; four step-great-grandchildren, Cameron, Parker, Paxton, and Raiden; and family friends, Natalie (Matt) Lanoues and Stephanie Treschek.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Erich Fuhrmannek; brother, George; and daughter, Gretchen Spaeth.

We would like to say a special thanks to the wonderful staff at Grand Arbor Gardens Memory Care and Hospice of Douglas County, Alexandria, MN.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, October 30, 2021, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria, MN. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on Saturday at the church.

Inurnment to take place at Flowerfield Cemetery, Hills, MN at a time to be given later.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.