Mineral Point - Billy Jean (Crump) Fleming, age 88, died peacefully August 21, 2015 at the family home near Mineral Point, Wisconsin.
Jean showed great courage and fortitude throughout her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Kathryn (Crandall) Crump of Lakin, KS, and her three brothers, John Crump and Richard (Dick) Crump of Lakin, KS, and David Crump of Montezuma, KS.
She is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Jonathan; five children: Steve (Jump River, WI), Tom, Sue, Randy (Cindy) and Nancy, all of Mineral Point, WI.; ten grandchildren: Annaliese (Lee), Jonathon (Sergio), Brendan (Ian), Jenna, Rosie, Jesse (Melissa), Kathryn (Matt), Phillip, Lily (Dan), Milo; three great grandchildren: Madeleine, Gus and Ellie; and one brother: Robert (Nancy) Crump of Indianapolis.
Jean was born May 30, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas to William and Kathryn (Crandall) Crump. The loving sister of four brothers, she established an early habit of gracefully caring for others. Education was important to her folks, who both attended college. Jean met Jonathan in 1948 in Manhattan, Kansas when both were working on their Bachelor's degrees at Kansas State University. They were married August 21, 1949 in Garden City, KS. For the next 15 years, as children were born and being raised to school age, Jean maintained the family's home first in Kansas, then Cleveland and back to Kansas. When the youngest (Nancy) started school, Jean started teaching Home Economics at Bethel College in Newton, KS. She also served as President of the local PTA. In 1966 the family moved to Logan Utah where Jean and Jon both earned their Masters degrees in 1968 at Utah State University. The family moved to Horicon, Wisconsin in 1968. Jean worked her way up to become chairperson at Moraine Park Technical Institute in Fond du Lac, WI. During this time she began working on a Doctorate degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison which she completed in 1980.
Jean was a quiet advocate for women's rights. She set an example of strength and independence for the women in her family. All through her busy life she took time to provide comfort and support to her family and many friends. She was a loving person of great capacity who will be dearly missed. Her life is cause for celebration.
There will be a memorial gathering at the family home near Mineral Point, Wisconsin from 2:00 – 6:00 pm on September 19, 2015. Please R.S.V.P. so we can adequately plan for a light meal.
Thank you everyone who loved and remembers Jean.