Stephen Louis Croft

Stephen Louis Croft, 86, passed peacefully on January 31, 2026, surrounded by family members. He was born June 22, 1939 in Logan, Utah, in the Budge Memorial Hospital, the son of Jack and Lucile Ballif Croft. He married Pat Larsen in 1959 and they had six children. They were later divorced.
He graduated from Logan High School. While at Logan High, he was active in student activities, drama, music, speech, athletics, and R.O.T.C. He lettered in baseball 3 years, and in his senior year he was the commander (Cadet Lieutenant Colonel) of the R.O.T.C. Battalion. He also performed the role of "Lucas" in the opera, "Student Prince" and was a group leader in the "Senior Hits" production. All through his school years, he worked part time at The Sportsman, founded by his parents in 1946.
During the summers, he worked for an arm of the Union Pacific Railroad, The Utah Parks Company. Two of the summers were spent in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, North Rim, where he lived and operated a high pressure pumping system supplying culinary water to the North Rim facilities. He often related tales of plane crashes, rattlesnakes, king snakes, ringtails, tourists, mules, dynamite, Phantom Ranch, and happenings in "The Hole".
He entered Utah State Agricultural College the fall of 1957, choosing majors of pre-law and economics and enrolled in the Air Force R.O.T.C. program with goals of becoming a pilot and a career in the military. While at Utah State, he was active in student affairs, and taught ski classes for the P.E. Department, Interfraternity Council, and Deputy Commander, Air Force R.O.T.C. Cadet Wing. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate, Class of 1961, and tendered a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Regular Air Force after graduation. He was a member of Scabbard and Blade, an honorary military group. Proudly, a Sigma Chi.
Lieutenant Croft reported for active duty and pilot training July, 1961 at Webb AFB, Texas and was in Class 63-A, the first Air Force, all jet, supersonic, flying the Northrup T-38, class. He graduated from same August 1962. He wanted a fighter assignment but was assigned to the 19th squadron, Kelly AFB, Texas, a unit that had a world-wide mission of special weapons logistics. He was upgraded to Aircraft Commander as a 1st Lieutenant, a special promotion achieved by few at that time.
During 1966, he received orders to Vietnam to fly the CV2B an Army airplane and he was part of the Initial Air Force cadre to set-up and take over the CV2B on January 1, 1967. He flew both logistic and tactical missions for the 5th Special Forces Group, Airborne; the Green Berets. Reluctantly, he left the Air Force September, 1967. He was awarded the distinguished Fly Cross (P), the Airmans Medal with three oak leaf clusters, The National Defense Service Medal and The Vietnam Service Medal. He was nominated for the Bronze Star twice.
Steve and family moved back to Logan where he re-joined the family business, The Sportsman. During this time he was active in civic and USU activities. He was the founding president of the USU Fifty-Fifty Club, a support group for USU Athletics.
He, in 1975, moved to Dallas, Texas, accepting a position in sales and marketing with the Scully Leather Company. He met and became friends with Sam Lucchese, of Lucchese Boot Company. He was offered a position in sales and marketing and moved to Denver, Colorado in 1979. He joined the Western and English Sales Association, "WESA". Several years later, he was elected President of WESA and later became Chairman of the Board, an honorary position.
He joined Justin Boot Company and remained with Justin until his early retirement in 1991. During that time he moved to Lake County, Colorado, on Mount Massive Trout Club.
After his retirement from Justin, was the founding president of the Western Endowment Subsistence Trust, a charity founded to "Help deserving people in need in the Western Industry and Equestrian Heritage and Lifestyle".
Throughout his life, he was active in outdoor activities; skiing, fly fishing, big game and upland game bird hunting and golf. He was also a member of the Round Valley Association, the Mount Massive Golf Club, Greater Leadville Area Chamber of Commerce, Air Force Association, National Audubon Society (he was an ardent birder and hand fed his Mountain Chickadees through each winter), and the USU Old Main Society.
His special loves were his grandchildren and he attended their artistic, letter, church and athletic activities whenever possible.
During his life he was fortunate to meet or know many notable people among them are Merlin Olsen, Goose Gossage, General John K. Waters USA, Artist Amado Pena, Vince Gill, Ken (Festus) Curtis, Ben Johnson, Kenny Rogers, Tracy Laurence, Red Steagall, Charley Pride, Arnold Palmer, Robert Redford, Buck Taylor, and David Hasselhoff.
Steve is survived by his children, Stephen Robert (Jennifer Boman), Stanton Ladell, Carole Jean (Bruce) Jeppesen, Jack (Anthoanett Magallanes), Teresa Marie (Rick) Stanziole and his 17 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Louis Scott, grandson, Kellen James Jeppesen, and two brothers and one sister.
His family would like to thank Legacy House of Logan's staff for lovingly and kindly attending to Steve's personal care needs and for making his family and friends feel welcome any time of day. We would also like to thank the doctors and nursing staff at Logan Regional Hospital ICU and the staff at Community Nursing Services Hospice for helping Steve during his last days to pass with dignity and love.
Stephen's Funeral will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM at Allen-Hall Mortuary 34 E Center, Logan. A viewing will be held prior from 10:30-11:30 AM, and on Friday evening, February 6, from 5:00-7:00 PM. Interment will follow in the Logan City Cemetery with Military Honors from the Tremonton American Legion.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following charities: Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, National Audubon Society. Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.