I have a lawnmoyer with a bent crankshaft. A local mower repair shop says they can straighten it for only $59 a new crank costs $150 anyone ever had a crankshaft straightened? Does it work or is it a waste of money. They say they can straighten it while still in the engine!

Yup, we have a crankshaft straightener in our shop. We've straightened several cranks (Yes, in-engine) with it. In fact, I straightened the crank on my own mower. We have done it for several customers, and we haven't had any complaints. Of course, since it was bent once, there's more chance of it being bent again, if you hit something very hard.
I'd say give it a try.

Yeah.... give it a try.... btw, a good way to keep from doing this is marking things that can't be moved with a flag, or bright paint and move what you are able to before you mow.