Adriana B. Cramer Williams

Adriana Belle Cramer Williams passed away on December 13th, 2024 at the age of 89. She was born on December 25th, 1934 in Mapleton, Minnesota to Adrain Burton Cramer and Camilla Stevens Cramer. Adriana grew up on a small farm in the village of Beauford, Minnesota as part of the very large Cramer extended family. During her childhood she lived through the Great Depression, standing in ration lines during World War II, and making do on the farm. The family raised a lot of their own food including dairy cows, and chickens. She attended a one room country school, next door to the farm with her younger brother Calvin. 

Adriana worked in a canning factory through high school and after her graduation from Mapleton High School in 1956, attended the Mankato State Teachers College, now Mankato State University. Her first teaching job was at Mountain Lake, Minnesota teaching elementary school. She then moved to Hutchinson, Minnesota and taught 3rd grade. In Hutchinson, she met Gene Dennis Williams, whom she married on August 12th, 1961 in the church she had grown up in at Beauford. The same Beauford United Methodist Church hosted their 50th wedding anniversary celebration in 2011. 

Adriana and Gene moved to Faribault, Minnesota, where their oldest daughter Lynn was born in 1962. They later moved to Blue Earth, Minnesota, where their son Michael and younger daughter Ann were born in 1965 and 1968. They were active in the Salem United Methodist Church and Adriana was co leader for the Brownie troupe Lynn was part of.

Adriana and Gene moved their family to La Jara, Colorado in October of 1973, a small mountain town in the San Luis Valley, Adriana was a 4H leader, children's choir director, Brownie leader, Cub Scout Leader, and director of the Noah’s Ark Day Care Center. She touched many lives over 5 decades. Adriana enjoyed quilting, embroidery, and decorating cakes. She was also an avid and expert gardener. She loved to bake and made wonderful treats every year for the holidays. In addition, she was very involved in the United Church of La Jara, taught Sunday school and held a women’s Bible study in her home. She was always there for her children and grandchildren, supporting them with all their interests and endeavors.

After Gene suffered a stroke in 2022, Adriana and Gene moved to Brighton, Colorado. They resided in the Inglenook assisted living community until her passing. 

Adriana is survived by her husband of 63 years, Gene, her children, Lynn Williams of Tucson, Arizona, Michael Williams of Broomfield Colorado and Ann D'Epagnier(Michael) of Brighton, Colorado. Five grandchildren, Melissa Jackson(Jonathan) of Canton, NC, Steven D'Epagnier(Claire) of Hiawatha, Iowa, Jennifer D'Epagnier of Edmond, Oklahoma, Amy D'Epagnier of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Hannah D'Epagnier of Brighton, Colorado. Two great grandsons, Jayce and Merritt Jackson. Nieces Pam Cramer and Paula Heyda. Nephews Steven and David Kreitlow, Jonathon Doberstein, and Curtis Redman. Sisters in law Joanne Redman and Mary Cramer. She is predeceased by her parents, Adrian and Camilla Cramer, brother Calvin Cramer, sister-in-law Jan Kreitlow, brothers-in-law, Eldon Redman and William Kreitlow. Denise Redman, niece.

 Adriana will be interred in Beauford, Minnesota in Oak Hill Cemetery. She was deeply loved and is very much missed!

If you would like to make a donation in Adriana’s name, here are two options. (The cemetery is small and could always use some money.)

Oak Hill Cemetery Fund

c/o Kim Kringle

57236 148th Street

Good Thunder, MN 56037

 OR

Samaritan’s Purse   https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/donate-online