Sharon Dutton

1942 - 2018

Sharon Kay Scouten Dutton was born Dec. 9, 1942, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She was the third of four daughters to Willard and Leora Simmons Scouten.

Her early years were spent traveling around the West following her father's work. They settled in Cobalt in 1957. She was so happy to be able to go to school in one place. She graduated from Salmon High School with high honors in 1961.

She met Dale Dutton, a wild and handsome cowboy, in the spring of 1961. They were married that fall, starting a lifelong adventure with her best friend. They started out life in Montana, where Dale wrangled horses and Sharon wrangled him. In the spring of 1962, they welcomed their first child, Katherine. In the summer of 1963, they returned to Salmon just in time to welcome a son, Larry.

Sharon started working in the late '6os. First selling Avon, which was an interesting choice of careers for a shy person and no better testament to her personal resolve to do the hard things and do them well. In 1969, she began working at Van Gas as a secretary and working her way up to manager, eventually retiring in 2007. One of her proudest accomplishments was serving on the hospital board during the implementation and design of the new hospital.

Sharon was an avid gardener, a voracious reader and an unfailing champion of friends and family.

Sharon was happiest when she was busy, and she was always busy.

Her mother, Leora, lived with her until her death in 2011.

Sharon promptly packed her things and began spending winters in Idaho Falls to be closer to her family. A grandson once said, "Grandma, you need to get a hobby." and her response was "I have one… It is you." She was right, her family was the air she lived and breathed. She was slow to make friends because once you were a friend, you were family.

January 2017, it was discovered that she had developed mesothelioma, cancer caused by asbestos contamination. It is unknown where she could have been exposed to the contaminate. It is everywhere, in our homes, schools, in food and makeup. She bravely worked through chemotherapy and radiation, finally succumbing to this horrible disease March 3, 2018.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Willard and Leora Simmons Scouten; her husband, Dale Dutton; a sister, JoAnne Samuelson; and niece, Camille Schultz.

She leaves behind two sisters, Leona Wray of Blackfoot and Judy (Billy) Fayle of Shelley; daughter, Katherine Swanson; son, Larry Dutton; grandsons: Matthew Godfrey, Marc (Kayla Binggeli) Dutton, Zackery Dutton and William (Ron Marie) Dutton, all of Idaho Falls; granddaughters, Kaitlyn (Christopher) Stanger of Salmon and Crystal Dutton of Arizona; two great-grandchildren, Ethan Godfrey of Idaho Falls and Brooklyn Johnson of Arizona; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her loss has left a void in our lives. She will be missed tremendously.

A private memorial will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First St. Condolences may be sent to www.coltrinmortuary.com.