Margaret Mary Cronk

Margaret was born Valentine’s Day 1936 and died January 25, 2017.  Margaret was the 5th of Martin and Anna Reichlin’s eight children, raised on their dairy farm near Lummi Day School, Washington. She attended Assumption school with her eight siblings and graduated from Ferndale High School in 1954. She fell in love with Harold Cronk and they married in 1957, welcoming 14 children in nearly 60 years of marriage. They first lived in Bremerton, then Poulsbo, where their first two daughters were born.  Their desire to farm took them to Ree Heights, S.D., where two more daughters were born. In 1964, after a brief stay in Marysville, Harold and Margaret moved to Deming, Washington, where they have lived for 53 years and been blessed with 10 more children. Being a wife and mother brought Margaret great joy, and exemplified her strong, devout and enduring faith. A devout Catholic, she taught catechism and led the prayer chain for many years at St. Peter Catholic Church. She loved hosting family dinners, gardening and canning. She loved dancing with Harold, visiting family/friends, and reading. Most of all, she loved babies and was extremely proud of her children and grandchildren. For them, there was no limit on cookies at Grandma’s house. Throughout her life, she passed on her love of faith, family, gardening, and babies to her children. Margaret will be greatly missed by her family, including 65 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Anna Reichlin; brothers Leo and Leonard Reichlin; sisters Theresa Johnston and Sr. MaryAnn Reichlin (SSJP); children Martin and Rosanne Cronk, and son-in-law Javier Gutierrez.  She is survived by her husband Harold Cronk;  sisters Catherine Finkbonner, Josie Reichlin and Betty Deck; brother Marty Reichlin; children Theresa (Bob) Joy, Mary (Mike) Farrell, Louise (Vince) Baker, Joanne (Jeff) Cesar, Kevin (Valerie) Cronk, Lawrence (Jennifer) Cronk, Beverly (JD) Grigware, Glen (Lisa) Cronk, Darrel (Michelle) Cronk, Lyle (Jenny) Cronk, Virginia Gutierrez , Myron (Catherine) Cronk; grandchildren Ryan (Meaghn), Vanessa (Parker) Lancaster, Robin (Brett) Fleskes, Mary (Shawn) Findley, Philip, Loretta (Kevin) Donegan, Katrina (David) Thomas, Timothy, Andrew, and Victoria Joy; Brandon (Clarice), Monica, and Dylan Farrell; Angelica, Marian, Regina, Vincent, and  Julia Baker;  Geri-Lynn and Jacy-Anne Cesar; Ashley (Cody) Nolte, Matthew, Tyrel (Kayla), and Kerianna Cronk; Jeremiah, Bridgid, Kilian, Cecilia, Blaise, Kolbe, and Siena Cronk; Cassandra, Viviana, Danielle, and Jacob Grigware; Agnes, Grace, Audrey, Margaret,  Alice, Martin, and baby Cronk; Jason, Trevor, Peter, Shelby, Maria, Kirsten, David, James, and baby Cronk; Amelia, Anna, Joseph, Lillian, Harold, and Hattie Cronk; Rosana, Nicolas, Diego, and Joaquin Gutierrez; Genevieve, Leah, MaryAnn, and Justin Cronk; great-grandchildren, Michael, Liam and Edith Joy; Laurelle Skipper and Aurora Lancaster; Addison, Jameson, and baby Fleskes; Julianna and Suzanna Joy, and Bryce Findley; baby Donegan; Lexi Bowden, Avri, Marli, and baby Thomas; Elisa Farrell; Brayden Nolte.

Services at St Peter Catholic Church in Deming will include a Rosary at 7 pm Friday, January 27th and a Funeral Mass on Saturday, January 28th at 10 am followed by burial at St. Peter’s Cemetery.