Bert L. Crooks Obituary

November 25, 2021

TC Skorc wrote a sympathy message

“I love and miss you pop. Doesn't matter meaning the bad times. Everyone deserves forgiveness. With a the pain there was a lot of good in you. In the end you helped me and I miss you incredibly.”

September 26, 2018

Richard Crooks wrote a sympathy message

“My condolences on the loss of your father. I have no personal memories of him, thugh I am told he and his cousin Joyce Walser, then in their late teens, took a little me on a short road trip in Burt's convertible from Moscow Idaho to Lewiston and back. They had stuffed me full of candy and ice cream, and I repaid them, on the twists and turns of the Lewiston Grade, by throwing up on his back seat. I pieced the following together from bits and scraps of information. BURT LEE CROOKS was born at Moscow, or possibly on the Crooks Farm/Ranch at Palouse, on June 28 1930, to Floyd Bryant Crooks and Ruby Hansoen. He shared the June 28 birthdate with his mother. He had no living siblings, though there was a half brother Keneth Knuland Crooks, who died in infancy seven years before Burt was born. His father Floyd worked for the Washington Department of Highways out of Yakima, Washington, and the family lived there, coming back to Idaho for occasional visits. Burt's grandfather Bert was apparently a joker who had Burt convinced he was secretly the Sundance Kid who, with Butch Cassidy, had escaped the shootout in South America and slipped back into the States via Mexico. Burt lost his mother 43 in 1955 while he was away in the Navy. She is buried at Sunnyside, Yakima, Washington. Burt 19 enlisted in the US Navy at Colfax, Washington on 2 February 1950, listed as an Ensign in the military register in 1955. Allegedly flew missions in Korea to avenge the death of his cousin “Little” Floyd D Crooks who was Killed in Action in South Korea 20 September 1950 24 April 1951 Burt, presumably on leave, received minor injuries while riding as a passenger in a racing car that went out of control and knocked down a highway sign near Colfax, Washington. Burt was thrown from the car and hospitalized overnight. Burt 25, married Michael Ann Lieuwen 18, 7 April 1956 at San Diego, California. Burt was posted to the Navy base on Whidby Island, Washington when he was honorably discharged from the Navy 26 November 1956. Burt became an airline pilot, I believe for Northwest, but no record of when or for how long. Daughter Kimbely S Crooks born at San Diego. September 1957 - Bert flying out of Geiger Field, Spokane for the Navy Reserve, when he received a return to base order with no explanation. Upon landing he was informed of his fathers demise. 19 November 1957 Living at Spokane Burt received his $100 Korean Veteran Bonus for Navy service. 3 November 1961 Burt 31 married Patricia Elaine Campbell at Hennepin county Minnesota. 13 April 1963 Burt 32 married Lois Diane Wallin 21 at Rice county Minnesota Birth of son Slade Lawrence Crooks Hennepin Minnesota Birth of son Thadius Mathew Crooks Hennepin Minnesota 10 August 1978 - Newspaper acount of Burt's in flight emergency on a Northwest flight out of Minneaopolis-St Paul requiring fuel dump and emergency landing I understand there was some traffic accident that injured Burt to an extent that he could no longer fly for the airline? Have not been able to track down an account of what happened. Burt appears to have spent some time living around Port Roberts. Rick Crooks”