David ‘Scoot’ Mickelson - Grand Junction, Colorado

July 5, 1938 - Jan. 15, 2021

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David “Scoot” John Mickelson passed away on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 at his home in Grand Junction, Colorado, with his family at his side.
Dave was born on July 5, 1938, in Brookings, SD to Floyd Leroy Mickelson and Helen (Davis) Mickelson. He grew up in Bushnell, SD, attended the Bushnell Grade School and graduated from Brookings High School in 1956.
While growing up in Bushnell, he worked with his Dad and his brother Jim in the Bushnell Garage. Dave then attended South Dakota State University graduating in 1960 with a degree in Wildlife Management. After graduation he joined the United States Army and served 2 years. Upon returning, he attended Graduate School at SDSU before moving to Utah to work as a Park Ranger at Dinosaur National Monument.
Dave married Judy Waite in 1965 in Colorado. Their son Kevin was born in 1968. They resided in Colorado, California, Iowa and Utah where Dave worked as a Game Warden, Park Ranger, and with the Bureau of Land Management. He married Linda “Lou” Offutt in 1983 in Nevada. They made their home in Colorado where their son Justin was born. In 1989, Dave and Lou moved their family to Tok, Alaska where Dave worked for the Bureau of Land Management. They lived in Alaska until he retired in 1999 to Vernal, Utah. They moved to Grand Junction, Colorado in 2018.
Dave loved nature and the outdoors. He and Lou enjoyed hunting, fishing and loved gardening together. While living in Utah, they enjoyed caring for their greenhouse and a huge garden. He loved animals and he and Lou always had pets that were an important part of their family. Dave was an avid reader and he especially loved spending time with his family.
Dave is survived by the love of his life Lou, children Kevin (Stacey) Mickelson of Gunnison, Co., Justin (Tahllie) Mickelson of Vernal, Utah and Wendy (Glenn) Smith of Lehi, Utah Stepchildren, Kristy (Chad) Huffaker, Vicki (Clay) Kone, and Farley Brewer, grandchildren Cooper, Keaton, Decker, Dodie, Ayden, Jessica, Zachary and A.J., sisters Joanne (Dennis) Nordstrom, Julie (Terry) Hutchison, Patricia (Joseph Drach) Mickelson, Cindee (Alan) Wagner, sister-in-law Doris Mickelson and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Helen Mickelson, his brother Louis “Jim”, sister Dianne, brother Jonathan and stepson Mike Murray.
Dave will be laid to rest in the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery on Monday Jan. 25, with Honors. No funeral services are planned.