Funeral Services for Crystal Matthews, age 67, of O'Neill will be 10:00 am Thursday, September 23, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church in O'Neill. Pastor Clyde Teel will officiate. Burial will follow in the O'Neill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8 pm Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill. Crystal passed away on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in O'Neill, NE after a short battle with cancer. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children's Hospital. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary of O'Neill, Nebraska.

Crystal Marie Teel was born April 7, 1954 to Ralph and Lucille (Freeman) Teel of Burke, South Dakota. She was the second of five children, and graduated from Burke High School in 1972. Upon completing high school, Crystal moved to Springfield, South Dakota to attend the University of South Dakota, graduating with a degree in business. From there she went to work for the State of South Dakota in both Sioux Falls and Pierre before making her move to Nebraska. While in Nebraska, Crystal opened Super 8 motels, sold feed for Purina Mills, sold advertising, and worked different accounting jobs. Upon her move to Nebraska, she met JP (John Patrick) Matthews and they were married October 18, 1986. Together they had two children: Lacey, born April 6, 1988 and Cordele, born May 6, 1997.

If you asked her, Crystal was full of stories of great cross-country adventures, interesting people she met, or the great conversation that was had while working cattle. She would also be the first person to tell you that she had to learn how to be a farm and ranch wife, but she did it with a full steam ahead attitude, always ready to lend a hand and make people laugh. She instilled the importance of education, travel, and a passion for being your own person in her children. Crystal was a constant friend to anyone she met whether it be a truck driver at a gas station, an officer with the K9 unit, or a lost student on a massive college campus. The constant mom to anyone within vicinity with a "call me when you get home" or an ear when someone needed it.

Crystal is survived by her husband of 35 years, J.P. Matthews of O'Neill; children, Lacey Matthews of Pender, NE and Cordele Matthews of Omaha, NE; mother, Lucille Teel of Burke, SD; siblings, Clyde Teel of Sioux Falls, SD, Vickie (Rich) Dobesh of Burke, SD, Marilyn Jansen of Mitchell, SD, and Cheryl (John) Ludwig of O'Neill, NE; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Crystal was preceded in death by her father, Ralph Teel of Burke, SD; cousin, Mark Teel of Rozet, WY; uncles, Harold Teel of San Diego, CA and Russell (Roberta) Teel of Herrick, SD; sister-in-law, Becky Teel of Sioux Falls, SD; brother-in-law, Scott Jansen of Mitchell, SD; and grandparents, Harold and Opal Teel of Burke, SD.