Richard Crettol, 89

Richard “Rich” Lee Crettol, 89, of Sandpoint, Idaho, passed away peacefully at home Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. 

Rich was born Sept. 16, 1936, in Denver, Colo., to Russell and Ruth Crettol. He moved to Boise at age 6, where his lifelong love of water and boating first began. In 1955, at a local street dance, he met the love of his life, Suellen Hilliard. They married May 17, 1959, and built a life grounded in faith, service, dancing, and deep commitment to community. They were active members of Sandpoint United Methodist Church, where Rich served faithfully in many leadership roles.

Rich built his career in life insurance and estate planning, helping families and businesses prepare responsibly and thoughtfully for the future. Service defined his life. He served in the Idaho Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve from 1958–1964. He later devoted 38 years to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, retiring as commander. He taught hundreds boating safety and led the installation and maintenance of navigation aids along 25 miles of the Pend Oreille River, from the Long Bridge to Albeni Falls Dam, improving safety for generations of boaters.

Boating was his passion. He cherished time aboard his boat, Sweet Sue. In 1983, he helped create what became Garfield Bay Marina and later designed floating dock systems around Lake Pend Oreille, including Sandpoint City Beach, leaving a lasting and visible mark on the region’s waterfront.

An Eagle Scout, Rich mentored generations through Scouting, serving as pack master, founder and leader of Sea Scouts Unit 303, and in many U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary leadership roles, including Flotilla and Division Commander, guiding others in service and seamanship.

He was a member of Boise Lodge No. 2 AF&AM, Boise DeMolay, and a life member of both the Masonic Brotherhood and JCI Senators. He also helped provide housing opportunities and access to support services for men and women by co-founding the Sandpoint Community Resource Center (now Community Resource EnVision Center), reflecting his lifelong purpose of volunteering and giving back to the community he loved.

Rich is survived by his children, Brian of Sandpoint, Idaho; Debbie of Salmon, Idaho; and Greg of Seattle, Wash.; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Suellen.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at Sandpoint United Methodist Church. Burial with military honors will follow at Lakeview Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Better Together Animal Alliance, 870 Kootenai Cutoff Road, Ponderay, ID 83852, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Rich’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.