Mostly Cloudy, 51° F
(Jan. 25, 1925 - Nov. 16, 2012)
Scott Meeks Welch, of Lovell, died on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, leaving behind his beloved family, friends and community. He was 87.
Scott was born Jan. 25, 1925, in Cowley. His loving, caring parents were Charles Golden and Ora Meeks Welch. Scott married Kathleen Peterson on Sept. 4, 1945, in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After graduating from Cowley High School, Scott served as an ensign in the Navy during World War II from Nov. 1943 until Oct. 1946. He attended Cornell University, Northwestern University and graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Scott graduated from St. Louis University School of Dentistry in the spring of 1953.
Scott, Kathleen and their first child Chauna then moved back to the Big Horn Basin to begin his 51 years of practicing dentistry, making brighter smiles around Lovell and the surrounding areas.
Scott and Kathleen raised seven children and have called Lovell their home since 1953. His greatest accomplishment and greatest joy came from raising those seven children and their extended posterity. He was exceptionally proud of his children’s accomplishments in education, athletics, music and their chosen professions. Scott and Kathleen took great pride in attending the numerous events in which their children participated and performed.
Their loving children are Chauna W. Bischoff of Lovell, Robert P. (Dori) Welch of Salt Lake City, Utah, Dr. Scott P. Welch of Lovell, Dr. Bradley P. (Cindy) Welch of Las Vegas, Nev., Dr. Greg P. (Wendy) Welch of Las Vegas, Nev., Dr. Barry P. (Lori) Welch of Cody and Krystal W. (Carl) Brown of Houston, Texas.
Scott and Kathleen greatly influenced their seven children, 33 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Scott was an accomplished athlete as the starting quarterback for the University of Wyoming football team in 1946 and 1947, achieving All-Conference status at that position. While waiting for placement into dental school, Scott was the assistant football coach for the Wyoming Cowboy’s freshmen football team.
He was an accomplished musician and loved to sing with his brothers, family and wife. They performed throughout the state at many functions. In his profession, Dr. Welch was active in state, national and international dental committees, including serving on numerous boards. He served in many offices including president of the American Association of Dental Examiners and president of the Wyoming Dental Association. He was honored by the American Dental Association with a “Distinguished Service” award in 1984. He also was honored with the great distinction of being named The American Association of Dental Examiners “Citizen of the Year” in 1988 by the AADE.
A member of the American Dental Association and the Wyoming Dental Association, Dr. Welch attended the National ADA meetings as the delegate for Wyoming for 15 years. He served as president in 2001 of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, an international honor dental organization. He received the Outstanding Contribution to the Arts and Sciences of Dentists award in June 1995.
Many of his colleagues remember his vivacious personality and how he showed love for his community by placing roses on the lapels of everyone he met, as well as delighting everyone with honey candy from Queen Bee Gardens. His influence and prominence in his field inspired many from the Big Horn Basin to pursue his chosen profession as their own.
Within his community he served on the North Big Horn Hospital Board for 24 years, Big Horn County School District No. 2 Board for 29 years and the Foster Gulch Golf Board for 25 years.
Scott was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as bishop of the Lovell First Ward from 1959 to 1966. He served on the Stake High Council and in the Big Horn Stake Presidency as a counselor to president M. Dale Ensign.
Scott is survived by all seven children, three sisters, Alys Winterholler, Ilene (Duane) Harvey and Louise (Ed) Croft and one brother, John C. (Jane) Welch.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Kathleen Peterson; his parents Charles Golden and Ora Welch; six brothers: Golden, Arthur, Joey, Ford, Thomas and Gilbert; three sisters: Helen Paris, Maida Dalton and Mae Brown; and two great-grandchildren: Keeyan and Kyla Kynn Welch.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 23, in the Lovell Stake Center at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at the Cowley Cemetery. A viewing will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Online condolences may be sent to www.haskellfuneralhome.com.
