Ariel Croxton

Ariel Harwood Croxton, 94, of Great Falls, passed away on January 8, 2015 of natural causes. Ariel was born on February 7, 1920 to Ernest and Bernice Harwood in Landgon ND. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 23 at 2:00 p.m. at O’Connor Memorial Chapel with Pastor Nick Gough officiating. Viewing and visitation will be an hour before the service. Ariel was an avid reader and loved to write stories and poetry. She was adventurous and loved to go travelling on a moment’s notice. She so enjoyed life that she went sledding down a mountain in her 80’s. For many years she lived on a farm out of Fairfield while married to Glen Austad. She taught school in Basin and Great Falls. Her greatest pride was serving as a nurse in the Navy during World War II. For many years she volunteered in the senior center Kitchen in Great Falls and worked with the Salvation Army in Great Falls and Hawaii. She is survived by her sons Wayne (Kathy) Bradford, and Andrew (Tammy) Austad; daughter April (Jerry) Sliwoski; grandchildren Dawn, Dianna, Carrie (Ben), Mitchell, David and Matthew; great grandchildren Savannah, Macala, Jessica, Lexi, Hannah, Rebecca and Ryder; sisters Beth Applegate and Penny Chapman; along with numerous sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. Her son Robert Bradford preceded her in death, also her brothers, Robert, Richard, Benjamin and David Harwood.