Obituary - Scott Unruh

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, father-in-law, and much-loved Scott Erwin Unruh, on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at the young age of 71. Husband of Joanne (nee Faber), father to Tenille (Alex) Burdz and Terra (Clayton) Hoffman; grandfather of Aidan Perks; brother to Wenda (Don) McIntosh, Laurie (Donna) Unruh and Dave (Cathy) Valcour, and more to those who knew and loved him, he is already missed more than words can express.

Scott(y) lived every day to the fullest, starting at 4am and still taking work calls into the evening hours, even if it was from his couch in front of the biggest TV that would fit his living room, where he would shake his head at officiating, cheer on fast cars, exclaim over the cost of barley, or offer you some advice on how to properly smoke, slow roast or BBQ any kind of meat. When he wasn’t selling pivots or cheering for the Saskatchewan Roughriders (Lucky Lake will always be home), Scott could be found on the golf course, proudly displaying his newest golf cart, putter, range finder or Panama hat and telling you about what an amazing golfer his wife is (Joanne – a nurse who “could have played in the LPGA”). Or maybe he was hunting with one of his many dogs (Reese, Montana, Shelby – he still talked about each of them), fishing with his grandson (Aidan – even though he might have been bored, he still cherished that time with his grandpa), or driving a group of us to the race track in Vegas in the Exxon Valdez (How many friends, family and colleagues can you fit in a Ford Excursion? Take that number and add 2!). We’re not sure if he could have done more with his amazing life but we know that he spent every second making the most of the time he had.

If you were in the agriculture industry in Saskatchewan, Alberta or Montana, whether you were a customer, colleague, or competitor (good luck with that, you would have needed it), you knew who Scott Unruh was. There was no one with as much pride in their work, passion for the industry or drive to get the job done, no matter where or when, than Reinke’s top salesman. There is not enough space to list the awards, accolades and milestones after over 30 years in the business, starting at Inland Irrigation and finishing with Delta Irrigation in Medicine Hat, still at his computer every morning, country music blaring, right up until a few weeks before his passing.

Here’s the deal… we could talk about Scotty for pages, fill a book with lists of his friends, family, accomplishments, favorite things, the vehicles he has owned, the trips he has taken, his love for his wife, his pride in his daughters and grandson, and his absolute, unwavering belief in himself and the fight he put up right until the end. There will never be another like him, and he will forever be missed by anyone that was lucky enough to have met him.

An interment will be held in Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan, where he will be placed with his parents, Erwin and Bertha Unruh and a celebration of life will be held in Choteau, Montana, later this summer. In lieu of flowers, Scott requested that donations be made to the Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre, c/o the Medicine Hat & District Health Foundation, 666 - 5th Street SW, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 4H6 or St. Joseph’s Home Carmel Hospice, 156 - 3rd Street NE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 5M1.

If you have stories, pictures or condolences to share with the family, please send to rememberingscottunruh@gmail.com so that we can collect them.