Collins Crapo Nelson

Collins Crapo Nelson, 90, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2026.

Collins was born August 23, 1935, in Sandy, Utah, to Clarence (Nick) and Alpha Nelson.

He graduated from Jordan High School and served for a short period in the US Army.

Collins married Sharon Beckstead in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, together they raised three handsome boys, and welcomed nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Collins faithfully served in numerous callings throughout The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and found great joy in serving others.

Dad loved to be active his attention to detail especially his craftsmanship when building was remarkable. He loved sports, especially basketball, and rarely missed an opportunity to play or watch the Utes from his season seats. He also loved the outdoors. Backpacking, hunting, camping, fishing.... if it could be done outdoors Dad was all in. He was famous for his enormous camp fires at deer camp, locating the best lakes in the Uintahs with the biggest Brooke Trout known to man, and his stories as we stood around waiting for sunrise pheasant hunts at the Beckstead farm in Logan. Then there were the fishing trips. The hours we spent together in boats as a family probably add up to years of our lives. As we progressed through the years we went from his handmade wooden boat, to the "tin" boat, and eventually the brand new beautiful fiberglass inboard ski boat that we could also water ski behind!! Some of our best memories were made on the water. Looking back, surviving some of those Flaming Gorge storms in that tin boat feels like nothing short of divine mercy. Dad taught us hard work, pride in craftsmanship, attention to details, always getting the job done well without cutting corners, loyalty, love, and perhaps most memorably, frugality. We all remember being 15, 13, and 11 years old when we went to our first sit-down restaurant, South Seas. We sat in the corner booth with the red Naugahyde seats, and it felt like pure luxury. Looking back, Dad taught us that special things are made special because they are not everyday occurrences. Dad, thank you for the memories, the laughter, the adventures, and the hard work... or at least most of those memories.

We love you and will miss you, especially your silly jokes. One of our favorites was when we'd ask, "Dad, how do you feel today?" and you'd answer by holding up your hands. Let's just say, we hope that particular joke doesn't travel too far through the gene pool.

More than anything, Dad loved time with family. Whether gathered around a campfire, in a fishing boat, at a basketball game, or sharing a joke, he created memories that will live on for generations.

We love you, Dad.

Collins is survived by Derek (Courtenay) Nelson his child Ashley, and great grand children Olivia and Darrel; Clarke (Anne) Nelson, and their children Sethe, Shad, Blake and Breck; Curtis (Holly) Nelson, and their children Kendyl, Mayci, Jayda and Hayes. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nick and Alpha and his brothers, Gary and Dan Nelson.

A viewing will be held at Goff Mortuary on Monday, July 27th from 4pm to 6pm with burial to be at Sandy Cemetery on Tuesday, July 28th at 9am.