Levon Keith “Scotty” Scott, age 72, of Sutherland, passed away December 9th, 2012 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, NE. Scotty was born August 13th, 1940 in Almena, KS to Elmer and Hattie Hayes Scott. He graduated from Densmore High School in 1958.
On November 7th, 1959 he married Katheryn M. Bittel in Norton, KS. The couple lived in Norton and Scotty worked construction and welding. He worked for Van-Pak Inc. in road construction primarily as site superintendent.
Throughout his career the family moved several times, living in Kansas, Iowa, and Oklahoma. In 1975 they moved to Sutherland to help construct the railroad spur for the Gerald Gentleman Power Plant. By the time that job was finished, the family had fallen in love with the community and did not want to leave. He then accepted a job as a welder/supervisor helping to construct the power plants.
In 1982, he opened Scotty’s Welding. He soon became well know around town as the man that could fix anything. To quote Scotty, “If someone built it, I can fix it.” After the shop was well established he began pursuing other interests such as farming, snow removal, dirt work, breeding chocolate labs, hunting geese at the Lucky 13, trap shooting, coffee club and gardening on a large scale, supplying sweet corn to the Sutherland community for many years. Scotty was man of few words, but when he talked, people listened. He was known for his blunt statements and his big heart. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Past Village Board Member, Sutherland Chamber of Commerce, the Sutherland Rodeo Committee and the Cow Pasture Gun Club.
In 1993, he built his first cooker for his daughters wedding. Cooking quickly became his passion. Over the years he kept improving his design and ended up building 5 additional cookers. His cooking operation became widely known around the state and he cooked at such places at Husker Harvest Days, Nebraska State Fair, Nebraskaland Days, Sutherland Parade and Rodeo, and countless weddings and events. He served VIPs such as Tom Osborne and multiple Nebraska Congressmen and Governors.
In 2002, Scotty “technically” retired from the shop. Those who knew him knew that he never really retired. He could be found tinkering with various projects to the very end.
Survivors include his wife, Kathryn of Sutherland; 7 children, Lori (Tracy) Barrett, Vicki (Steve) Osborn all of Sutherland, Theresa (Jerry) Shada of Lincoln, Duane (Marilyn) Scott of Conway, Arkansas, Julie (Chuck) Denton of Peoria, AZ, Andrew (Candace) Scott of Sutherland, and Joel (Christy) Scott of Waverly; grandchildren, Josh (Rachel) Barrett, Shaun Barrett, Corey (Kristy) Osborn, Ashley (Butch) Land, Curtis Osborn, Miranda (Tim Rosenau) Shada, Scott (Daisy Friesell) Shada, Brett, Madison and McKenna Scott, Glenn Norris and Shawn Shipman (Shawntel), Kalin and Katie Denton, April, Karlie and Blake Scott, and Landon, Avery and Mya Scott; great-grandchildren, Easton, Emerson and Oakley Osborn, Kaden, Colbee, Cooper and Kinsie Land, Brennen and Brody Shada; sisters, Nadene Snyder of Mesa, AZ and Helen Craig of Tonganoxie, KS; a brother, Elmond (Anita) Scott of Hill City, KS; numerous other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother Jackie.
Memorials may be made in his memory and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Christian Wake Services will be at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 13, 2012 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 14, 2012 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sutherland with the Reverend James Novakowski as celebrant.
Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery in Sutherland. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. today and 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Thursday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.