Michael Willits Crippen

Michael Willits Crippen of Layton, Utah, 78, passed away Monday, November 20, 2023, with his sweetheart Jeanne by his side. 

Mike was born on October 16, 1945 in Culver City, California to Arthur and Nancy Crippen. His only sibling, Douglas, arrived a short 13 months later and they had an idyllic childhood in Southern California.  

During high school, his neighbors the Cutlers introduced him to the Sister Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He and his father were baptized together on the same day in January 1962.

Mike attended Temple City and Arcadia High School where he participated in swimming and debate. Following high school, he attended Pasadena City College and danced with the Yovail Dancers. It was during this time that he met Jeanne Nelson, the girl he would later marry.

In 1964, he accepted a call to serve in the Scotland Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. During his mission, his mother Nancy suddenly passed away. 

Following his mission, he married Jeanne and they moved to Logan, Utah to both attend and eventually graduate from Utah State University. With his degree in History, he began his working career as a Math & History teacher at Kaysville Jr. High School. After a few years of teaching, he was persuaded to follow his brother into the insurance industry where he quickly excelled. 

In 1984, while working for Collier, Heinz and Associates he was given the opportunity to attend law school at the University of Idaho. Upon graduation from law school, he began practicing law, and in 1993 Mike and Russ Cline formed their own law practice, Crippen and Cline in Salt Lake City. During this time he also served in various capacities as a Justice Court Judge in both Davis and Salt Lake Counties. 

Mike spent a great deal of his law career giving countless hours of pro bono work to those in need. He was always the “go to” lawyer for his family, friends and ward members. 

It was during this time that he and Jeanne also served a Family History Mission at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

Mike had a brilliant mind and an impeccable memory. He loved to read, watch documentaries, and teach his grandkids how to play chess. He was a professional historian who loved to share his knowledge and love of history with any and all. He loved to sail, scuba dive and deep-sea fish. He was a pilot and a volunteer with the Civil Air Patrol for many years in Davis County and he was also politically active in Utah. 

Following his and Jeanne’s retirement they served a second mission together in the Guatemala Central Mission.  Mike served in many different capacities in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints but his favorite calling was teaching Gospel Doctrine. From the moment he was baptized until his passing, he was a faithful and dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

He is survived by his sweetheart Jeanne and his 4 children - Heather, Layton, David (Faun) North Salt Lake, John (Charlotte) Nephi, and Cami (Isaac) Kaysville, as well as 15 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and his brother Doug (Carma) in Juniper, Idaho. 

He was preceded in death by his daughter Holly, granddaughter Jashelle Babb, his parents Arthur & Nancy Crippen and stepmother Genevieve Crippen. 

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 1:00pm, at the Rosewood Ward Church, 125 Chapel Street. Layton, UT, with a viewing prior to the service from 11:30-12:45, at the church.

A Viewing will also be held on Friday evening from 6-8 at the Russon Brothers Mortuary, 1941 N Main Street, Farmington, UT

The service will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.