Suellen Crettol, 83

Suellen Crettol, 83, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Sandpoint United Methodist Church with the Rev. Catherine Lyle officiating. Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery.

Suellen was born April 29, 1940, in Little Rock, Ark., to Edwin and Sue Hilliard. The family moved to Boise and she participated in Girl Scouts and the local synchronized swim team. In 1958 she was the Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters Bethel #29 and she graduated from Boise High School where she performed as majorette.

Suellen married Richard Crettol on May 17, 1959, at the United Methodist Church in Boise. She was the Idaho State Jay-C-Ette president in 1970 and actively involved with the Idaho Chapter House for retired P.E.O.s — served as treasurer for the board of directors in 1979 followed by board president in 1981. 

Suellen was steadfast in her faith, devoted to helping others, was very organized, a servant leader and great with numbers. She served as church secretary for the United Methodist Church in Caldwell for 20 years, before moving to Sandpoint in 1983, where she worked for Litehouse Dressing and then as financial administrator for The Inkwell office supply for 20 years before retiring in 2008.

She was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church, was past president of United Methodist Women at the local, district, and conference levels. Past President of P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter V and was honored as Bonner County Women of Wisdom in 2013. Her community service extended to roles as chief judge for Washington Precinct elections, Reach to Recovery program for breast cancer patients, and president of Panhandle Animal Shelter Board. 

She is survived by her husband, Rich Crettol, of Sandpoint; two sons, Brian Crettol of Laclede and Greg Crettol of Bonney Lake, Wash.; one daughter, Debbie (Robert) Mitchell of Coeur d’Alene; six grandchildren, Nick, Cody, Ashley, Mattea, Emily, and Carson; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Edwin Hilliard and sister Anne Reynolds.

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

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Suellen’s online memorial and livestream at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.