Colleen Hilton

Colleen Kirgan Hilton
24 March 1932 – 24 July 2025
Having lived a lifetime of service to her family, church, and community, Colleen Kirgan Hilton of Orem, Utah, passed away peacefully at her home on July 24, 2025. She was 93 years old.
Born March 24, 1932, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Colleen was the second of three children of Clinton Kirgan and Lucille Wilkey. She grew up in Salt Lake City and Nephi, Utah. She attended West High School and graduated at age 16. Colleen worked for the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co. which was part of the Bell system for several years prior to serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from May 1953 to November 1954 in the Western States Mission. While serving her mission Colleen met the love of her life, H. Gill Hilton. They were sealed for time and eternity on March 9, 1956, in the Salt Lake Temple. They have ten children, 46 grandchildren and currently 45 great-grandchildren.
Colleen's chosen career was wife and mother. She considered her children to be the monuments of her life. While the family's permanent home was in Orem, Utah, she and Gill also lived in Provo, Utah; Raleigh, North Carolina; Frederick, Maryland; and Roanoke, Virginia. For decades, she supported her children at sports events, band concerts, musical recitals, graduations, and missions. At one point in the mid-1980s she had children in elementary, junior high, high school, and college. Colleen was an excellent cook and everyone appreciated her doughnuts, cinnamon bread, caramels, and peanut brittle. Almost everyone who ate at her home enjoyed the food and the welcoming atmosphere. In the last 25 years, she enjoyed hosting her college-age grandchildren for Sunday dinner each week, with dinner followed by hymn singing and card games. However, this physical care and support is only the tip of the iceberg of her life of love and service to her family. Of greatest importance to them is her life of Christian devotion and discipleship. She taught her children to love and believe in Christ through word and example.
Colleen served extensively in the Church as ward and stake relief society president, ward and stake young women president, gospel doctrine teacher, primary teacher, temple ordinance worker, and mission leader. She cherished serving with her husband for three years (1980-1983) when they presided over the Virginia Roanoke Mission. The calling she enjoyed most, whether assigned or not, was ministering sister. Colleen fulfilled the Savior's admonition to find "the one" time and again throughout her life. She was a true friend to many. Colleen also engaged in community service as PTA president at Lincoln Junior High and Westmore Elementary, voting judge for many elections, and as a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
Colleen is preceded in death by her husband, H. Gill Hilton, her children: Laurie Scott and Dallin Jae, and her siblings: Maxine Kirgan Denning and Gary Clinton Kirgan. She is survived by eight of her children: Hugh (Nalene) of Star Valley, Wyoming; Duane (Alysia) of Glenview, Illinois; Kathryn Chlarson (Keith) of Nibley, Utah; son-in-law Neill Scott of Orem, Utah; Sterling (Heidi) of Orem, Utah; Mariann Hilton (Bruce) of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Nancy Hilton (Gary) of Eagle Mountain, Utah; John (Tiffany) of South Jordan, Utah; and Stephen (Michelle) of Pleasanton, California; 42 grandchildren; and 45 great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at the LDS Chapel located at 80 West 900 South in Orem, Utah. Prior to the funeral service, a viewing will be held at the chapel beginning at 9:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the LDS Humanitarian Aid or General Missionary Funds.
To view the service for Colleen online please click here. www.walkersanderson.com