Crystal Kay Rains

Crystal Kay Rains, born on December 20, 1949, was a dedicated wife, loving mother, caring sister, and a fierce warrior who left behind both her strength and legacy on June 10, 2025. Strong to the very end, she made it very clear she did not lose her battle with cancer; she conquered it by carrying it away in death. Born in Rapid City, South Dakota, to Ernest and Helen Brooks, Crystal was a strong, adventurous, fun-loving woman who loved life and her family. She graduated from East High School in 1967, and following that, she graduated from CSU with a Bachelor’s degree majoring in History. 

From the time Crystal was a little girl, she was captivated by the mysteries of ancient Egypt- its mythology, its pharaohs, its timeless sands. That fascination stayed with her all her life. Under her sweet and gentle demeanor beat the heart of a Viking warrior. Of Norwegian descent, she carried a bold, fearless spirit, and though you wouldn’t know it by her sweet appearance, she had several tattoos, rode a Harley-Davidson motorcycle alongside her husband, and just like her adventurous Norwegian ancestors, she loved to travel. She has been to 49 states. In the course of three months, Crystal and her husband rode their motorcycles through 38 of the contiguous United States and 4 Canadian provinces, riding a total of 19,000 miles. She walked the beaches of Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. She climbed the mountains and sailed the fjords of Norway and Sweden. She visited the Glockenspiel in Germany. And she journeyed through Iceland, Denmark, and Turkey. Most memorably, Crystal fulfilled her life’s dream of an epic journey to Egypt—riding a camel to the Great Pyramids, sailing up the Nile, and even sharing a playful kiss with the Sphinx. 

She passed away in her home in Westminster, Colorado, at the age of 75, surrounded by family. She is survived by her husband Eddie, brother George, daughters Misty and Summer, grandson Glen, and granddaughter-in-law Kathy. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her, especially the family she held so dear. Though she is no longer with us, her legacy lives on—in the strength she instilled, the love she gave, and the resilience she shared.