Scott Eugene Minson

On May 2, 2022 Scott Eugene Minson returned to the loving embrace of his Heavenly Father and his eternal sweetheart Cindy. Scott was born on November 29, 1958 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Kenneth Lynn Minson and Dorothy Lyle Ruff Minson. He graduated from Brighton High School in 1977 and then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Kobe, Japan. He loved the people of Japan and brought many traditions home with him, including eating on the floor around the coffee table. Scott was a faithful member of the church his entire life and held many callings, including bishopric member, primary teacher (many, many times), young men’s advisor and high council member. He loved to hunt, fish and read, especially the scriptures.

Scott married the love of his life and eternal companion Cindy Pollei on February 22, 1980 in the Salt Lake Temple. Their love story was one for the ages. Scott was always with Cindy; they were inseparable so when Cindy passed away 5 years ago Scott was devastated. He never fully recovered from her loss, as he lost half of himself that day. The reunion in heaven was long awaited and now that it has arrived must have been indescribably joyful. On Valentine’s day of 1983, their one and only daughter, Jen, was born. She arrived two weeks late much to everyone’s impatience. She was born with two perfect dimples which Scott loved to call her “cheek deformities”. This was the nature of their relationship, love, teasing and a whole lot of laughing. Jen, along with her husband Joe and their daughters Jordyn and Sabrina lived with Scott to keep him from being “a grumpy old troll under a bridge” without Cindy around. The 5 lived quite happily in their little home with 6 dogs (2 eventually passed), a cat, a tortoise, 2 tree frogs, 2 goldfish and 6 chickens. Jordyn and Sabrina were the lights of his life, he loved them to distraction and enjoyed nothing more than joining them on the couch for a Phineas and Ferb or Scooby Doo marathon. He was a family man through and through, and each Sunday enjoyed spending time with his whole family, the entire, raucous, nutty bunch, who he was often the ringleader of.

Scott worked for the church as a bomb dog handler and trainer. He had the unique opportunity to get to know many of the prophets and apostles and loved to testify to the truth of their callings. Scott was also a dog trainer in the private sector for over 25 years. In fact, he was the ultimate dog whisperer. Not just dogs either, he once had an entire flock of chickens just sit down and allow him to scoop them up. It was uncanny. A lifelong lover of animals and science joined hand in hand with the best mentor available to make him the best dog trainer living (humble brag, but true). Scott didn’t just train dogs, he trained people to train their dogs. Scott met his dear, dear friend and business partner Darcy Phillips through dog training and was always so proud of how quickly she learned and became a master trainer as well. He also met her daughter Samantha Phillips who became a second daughter to him. Together they formed Dog 2 Dog and have made a difference in more lives than can be counted.

Scott loved people and made sure they knew it. You couldn’t help but feel of his love for you when you were in his presence. He firmly believed that people are not told “well done” enough so he made it a point to tell them that every chance he got. If you knew Scott, you’ve had yourself a “well done!” or a “gold star!” directed at you at least once. He had a wicked sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. He was also an amazing story teller that you could listen to for hours. He loved regaling his family, friends, ward family, dog students, primary kids, and anyone else who would listen with his stories and his wisdom. He touched so many lives and will be greatly missed by so many.

He is preceded in death by his wife Cindy Minson, parents Kenneth and Dorothy Minson, father-in-law Jon Pollei, and his grandparents. He is survived by daughter Jen (Joe) Richards, granddaughters Jordyn McIllece and Sabrina Richards, his siblings Jeff (Emma), Lynnette (Ken) McBride, Leslie (Greg) Heninger, Kris (Craig) Barnes, Spencer (Heidi), mother-in-law Carol Pollei, brother’s-in-law Greg and Bruce (Jamie) Pollei, Darcy and Samantha Phillipps, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, and students.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday May 11, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Jordan Oaks Stake Center, 8117 S. Leslie Dr. West Jordan, Utah. Friends and family may call Tuesday May 10, 2022 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the church or on Wednesday from 10:00-10:45 before the service. Interment will be at West Jordan City Cemetery, 7800 S. 1300 W. West Jordan, Utah.