Our Staff

Chad C. Osthus

Funeral Director/Owner

Chad was born in Watertown, SD, to Brent and Dianne (Redlin) Osthus. He grew up in DeSmet, SD, and graduated from Dell Rapids High School. He attended Dakota State University, Madison, SD, and graduated from Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, KS, with a degree in Mortuary Science in 1996. Chad started working for Mike and Jackie Skroch at the Skroch Funeral Chapel in Flandreau, SD. In August of 1997, he married Kristi Knight, daughter of Rod and Doris Knight, of Watertown. In 2000, Chad and Kristi moved to Watertown and he became affiliated with the Crawford Funeral Chapel where he has worked since. Chad and Kristi purchased the funeral home from Bill and Susan Crawford in 2015. Kristi works as the Director of Health Information at Prairie Lakes Hospital and they have two daughters, Morgan and Macee. They belong to Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer. Chad belongs to the Watertown Optimist Club and is a founding member of “Building Stronger Hearts”. Together, with his family, he enjoys anything outside from camping, fishing and boating to attending their children’s events. Chad enjoys a ride on his motorcycle in his spare time.

William J. "Bill" Crawford

Funeral Director

Bill was born and lived in Watertown, SD, until 1963, when his family moved to Redfield, SD. He graduated from Redfield High School in 1971. Bill attended Dakota State College in Madison, SD, and graduated in 1974 from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, IL. He worked as a funeral director in Huron, SD, and Mitchell, SD, before moving back to Watertown where he started Crawford Funeral Chapel in 1986. Bill and his wife, Susan, have three children and four grandchildren. They are very active members of Holy Name Catholic Church and the Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese Foundation. Bill is also a member of Rotary, Masons and the Knights of Columbus.

Rod Iverson

Funeral Assistant

Rod was born in Watertown, SD, to Alvin and Dorothy Iverson. He graduated from Watertown High School and attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology and Biology. Rod has served as funeral director assistant at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel for the past five years. He began working here after retiring from sales and supervisory positions with Sara Lee Baking Company for 36 years. Rod and his wife, Nancy, are parents of Mark and his wife, Alissa, and proud grandparents of Kaylee, Mason and Kyler. When not at work, Rod enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing and riding his Harley.

Gail M. Binde

Administrative Assistant

Gail was born in Clear Lake, SD, to Richard and Dolores Lindner. After graduating from Clear Lake High School, she moved to Watertown and started working at Cave Supply Company, where she worked for 33 years. Gail then worked at the John Deere Company for 10 years. Gail joined the staff at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in January 2016 as a Secretary/Receptionist. Her office responsibilities include: greeting the public, typing obituaries, designing memorial folders and processing legal documents. Gail has one son, Scott, and his wife, Kayla, and one daughter, Angie, and her husband, Shawn. She also has four grandchildren: Anna, Rasten, Evie and Brecken. Gail enjoys spending time with her family and attending her grandchildren’s activities. She also enjoys dancing in her spare time.