Hugh Newton

Hugh was born on Oct. 10, 1958, in Iron Mountain. He grew up in Iron Mountain, splitting his time between there and the Farm in Spread Eagle, Wis.

Soon after graduating from Iron Mountain High School in 1977, Hugh ventured west to Steamboat Springs, Colo. where he made his home. He continued to return to the Farm annually in the summertime.

Hugh found his community in Steamboat, with a multitude of friends who shared his zest for adventure and the outdoors, and friends who became like family. Hugh was proud of starting and running his own successful business, an appliance repair and service center, Appliance Service Center. This, coupled with his dedication to pursue new opportunities and interests, contributed to a vibrant existence.

Hugh was a curious, lifelong learner. He didn’t just dabble in hobbies — he became skilled at them. He enjoyed biking of all kinds (mountain, road, gravel, motor), piloted various types of boats (kayaks, dinghy, river rafts, etc.), handcrafted beautiful wooden bowls, and was an avid backcountry skier. He was a pilot and co-owned a plane for a time, which he would fly back to the Farm in the summer. There were very few things Hugh didn’t do or try.

He traveled extensively both in the U.S. and internationally, seeking out locations with natural splendor often coupled with some physically enduring activity. These excursions were adventurous, pursuing various interests in locations near and far: sea-kayaking along Greenland, biking in Norway, yoga retreats in India, boating in Flaming Gorge, exploring the Grand Canyon, and regular trips backcountry skiing in British Columbia. Hugh diligently photographed his travels and enjoyed sharing memories of these with friends and family.

He found time to volunteer as well, most notably spending numerous years both with Routt County’s Search and Rescue team and contributing to environmental restoration efforts by removing invasive species within the Dinosaur National Monument area. Hugh could be generous with his time and knowledge, patiently introducing many others to his activities and interests. He was trusted for his knowledge and skills, and was always willing to help others with their projects.

Hugh appreciated the finer things in life — from the sentimental value and history of family heirlooms and stories, to well-crafted clothing or a piece of turquoise, to the geodiversity of canyons, novelty snacks, a good book, and just about everything in between. Hugh was an expert at stashing snacks everywhere and luckily for the rest of us, was usually willing to share them. He had a sweet tooth, earning him the nickname “Uncle Cookie” from his nieces and nephews when they were young.

Hugh lived life on his own terms, serving as an inspiration for all of us to recognize the potential in each day, whether through helping others or going on an adventure. His nieces and nephews will greatly miss the mischievous nature of their Uncle Cookie.

Hugh is survived by his mother, Katherine Newton; and siblings, Jody Newton (Gray Holmes), Julia Newton (John Englund), Pat Newton (Wendy Gibson), and Jennifer Newton.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bill Newton, and his beloved dog.

A local celebration of life for Hugh will be held at a later date.