Born: Friday Sep-15-1933
Died: Monday Mar-06-2017
Funeral: Friday Mar-10-2017

Morrison Funeral Home
& Crematory
188 S. Hwy 24
Rupert, Idaho 83350
Contact and Directions

Robert Hilton Critchfield was born on September 15, 1933, in Oakley, Idaho to Lewis Robert and Zella Irene Plant Critchfield. He loved living his entire life in the Oakley Valley and being part of his wonderful Critchfield Family, four brothers and six sisters.

Sports became a big part of his life and he couldn’t wait to play the next football or basketball game with his friends. In 1951, Hilton was one of two Oakley athletes chosen to be on a district Big 7 team. He graduated from Oakley High School as salutatorian of his class.  He went on to play football for Brigham Young University.  The next year he attended Utah State University.

He served as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Eastern States Mission and because of his strong stature had the opportunity to take part in the Hill Cumorah Pageant as King Lamoni, a Book of Mormon character. He was pictured on the front page of The Deseret News and Telegram in the Saturday, August 21, 1954 edition.  He was also featured in color on the front of one of the post cards that was sold at that time.

Hilton was drafted into the United States Army at the close of the Korean War with training in Fort Carson, Colorado, also at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and service at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He qualified to be a sharp shooter and worked with a professional cabinet maker. He called Hilton his protector. He was with the first armored division Company C and was invited to go to officers candidate school but did not want to make a career out of the service. He also was sent to teletype school.

Critchfield Land and Livestock Corporation was formed by Hilton and his two brothers, Daren and Keith. They farmed together for years raising cattle, grain, hay, beets, and potatoes. Hilton said “it kept them out of the ranks of the unemployed and provided good, cheap food for their city cousins.” Later, he formed a farming partnership with his two sons, Shaun and Julian.

Hilton married Suzanne Bowen on December 2, 1960 in the Idaho Falls Temple and are parents of four children, Shaun, Annette, Julian, and Melinda. He has twenty-three grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. As a member of the LDS church, Hilton served as bishop, in the stake young men’s presidency, served in the Grouse Creek ward for a year, and was a Boise and Twin Falls temple worker and serve in various other capacities. For many years, he was also in charge of the Stake Temple Bus that he worked hard to fill with people each month.

He was a great patriot and loved his country. He always said” Why would anyone ever do anything to ruin America?”  He ran for County Commissioner and helped finance and implement the Constitutional Seminars that Cleon Skousen held in the Burley Area.

Hilton is survived by his wife Suzanne; children, Annette (Douglas) Hansen of Rupert, Julian (Jill) Critchfield of Draper, Utah, Melinda (Matthew) Clawson of Monument, Colorado, and daughter-in-law, Karen Evans Critchfield; two brothers, Daren Critchfield of Oakley, Idaho, and Noel Critchfield of Springville, Utah; one sister, Enid Bjarnson of Salt Lake City, Utah. He is also survived by twenty-three grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Shaun; his parents, Robert Lewis and Zella Irene Plant Critchfield; two brothers, Keith and Lewis; and five sisters, Venice Williams, Thelda Robinson, Norma Bowen, Zetta Tholen, and Inga Baker.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 10, 2017 at the Oakley Stake Center, burial will follow in the Oakley Cemetery with Military Rites provided by the Mini-Cassia Veterans. Friends may call Thursday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 at the Oakley Stake Center and from 10:00 until 10:45 prior to the funeral on Friday.

Condolences for Hilton Critchfield

From: Janice Gordon
Uncle Hilton will be greatly missed. He was truly one of the finest men that I have ever known. He was a hard worker and loved his family. I have so many fond memories of him growing up. It’s hard to say goodbye, but I am sure that he is relieved to leave his frail body and move on to the next stage of his existence. Farewell, dear uncle, until we meet again.

From: Kelvin Love
I am sorry to hear about your loss. I have a lot of great memories of Uncle Hilton. Truly a great man. He will be missed.

From: Kyle Love
I will miss Uncle Hilton. I remember the times we went out to Oakley to see him. He would give us rides on his tractor and take us out to see the city of rocks which was close by. He always treated us with a warm smile and a friendly hug. He was always a great example to us of someone that had a strong foundation in the gospel and loved to serve and help others.

From: Kathy (Stanger) Collett
Dear Critchfield Family,
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. we hope and pray that you will find comfort in the many treasured memories. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this most difficult time. May God's peace surround you.
With deepest sympathy,
Tim & Kathy Collett & family

From: Lane M. Bowen
I remember mom telling us the story of Uncle Hilton working on a tractor and it fell on his leg and cut it off! They were able to it back on and he was able to walk without even a limp. Brad and i Made a spear out of shovel handle and a nail and hunted his cattle! He sure let us have it when we speared one! It would have been fun to see the great reunion when he stepped on the other side of the veil and was greeted by all those who waited there for him. He was an awesome uncle our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Lane & Mary Lynne Bowen & Family!