Alvin W. Crawford

Alvin Walter Crawford, 69, longtime Lost River Valley Rancher, passed away at his home Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011.

Alvin was born Aug. 10, 1942, in Idaho Falls, to Walter Edwin and Selma Pearson Crawford. With the exception of a few years attending college, Alvin lived his entire life on the Crawford Ranch in the Antelope Valley. His early years were spent on the ranch hunting, fishing and helping his father with the ranch. He attended elementary school in Moore, Idaho, and high school in Arco, Idaho. Alvin attended Ricks College in Rexburg and Utah State University in Logan, Utah. He studied animal husbandry and was within a few weeks of earning a master's degree when he was called home to take over the ranch for his ailing father.

Alvin married Sherrie Glenn on Aug. 30, 1966, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They were happily married for 41 years before his beloved Sherrie passed away.

Alvin was a very hard working man. He was involved throughout most of his life in the Boy Scouts of America and enjoyed spending time with his sons in the Scouting program. He served as a Scoutmaster for many years and most recently as troop committee chairman. Due to his work with the Scouting program, he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award offered by the Teton Peaks Council, now Grand Teton Council. Alvin served for 39 years as the secretary of the Water District 34 board. He served on the Highway Board, the Butte County Fair Board and the Lost River Co-op Board. He worked for and retired from the Butte County School District, where he served as a school janitor, bus driver and as a go-to fix-it guy. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in many callings. Alvin loved spending time with his children, most especially when camping and later in life, loved to spoil his grandchildren.

Alvin is survived by his four children, Glenn (Ginger) of Rexburg, Eric (Kimberlee) of Mentor, Ohio, Warren (Samantha) of Laramie, Wyo., and Moria (Steven) Fries of Meridian, Idaho; 12 grandchildren; and two sisters, Eleanor (Albert) Fullmer of Leslie, Idaho and Audrey (Tom) Liddil of Pocatello, Idaho.

He was preceded in death by his beloved, Sherrie; his parents, Walter and Selma Crawford; and his brother, Edwin.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday Aug. 20, in the Moore LDS Stake Center in Moore, Idaho, under the direction of Bishop Brett Williams. A viewing will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, Aug. 19, at the Lost River Funeral Home in Arco and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Interment will be at Lost River Cemetery, under the direction of the Lost River Funeral Home.