Michael Scott Hart, 70, died at his home May 26, 2021. Scott was born October 5, 1950, in Salina, Kansas to Willard and Ione (Nelson) Hart. Scott and his older brother, Jeff, grew up on the family’s farm near Barnard, Kansas. He attended grade school in Lincoln and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1968. Following graduation Scott moved to Washington State to custom farm. In March 1969, Scott enrolled in flight lessons at Ellington, Washington, taking his first solo flight by the end of that month. By the following year, he had finished in time for the next crop to be harvested. Scott remained an aviation enthusiast and enjoyed flying to Oshkosh, Wisconsin every year for the annual air show.
Scott was drafted into the US Army in March of 1970. He was off to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina where he was trained as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. He was honorably discharged October 1972. His parting comment was, “I’ll never cut my hair again.”
The following year he enrolled at Fort Hays State College. During his year there, he met his future bride, Dianna Sue Stephen. The couple were married November 27, 1976 in the Bogue Community Methodist Church. To this union were born two children: Nathan and Megan.
The newlyweds made their home in Atwood for three years while Scott worked on a custom harvest crew. Dianna would always go along and recalled she did a great deal of “summer” reading. They traveled much of the Midwest during those summers; through Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Montana. The couple moved to Bogue in 1979. Scott began farming and running cattle with his father-in-law, Leon, and his brother-in-law Greg.
In May of 2016, Scott was involved in an accident on the farm that left him with deep second and third degree burns on 41 per cent of his body. He was hospitalized for 90 days and endured a long recovery. His faith and good humor got him through treatment and rehab making him stronger just as long as the therapists didn’t play country music! Many prayers were offered during this time not only from his friends and the good people of Graham County, but also from around the world.
Scott always enjoyed playing men’s softball and town team basketball. His orange Converse shoes were always part of the conversations during these games! He was a dedicated farmer and loved operating the combine during harvest. He was a giving and good-hearted soul, always willing to help anyone who asked or if he just saw the need. Shortly after the death of his brother-in-law Greg in 1993, Scott began EMS training and became an EMT. He was also a volunteer firefighter for many years in Bogue. Scott was an active member of the Bogue Service Club, Methodist Church and the Masons.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Ione; his father-in-law, Leon Stephen; his brother-in-law, Gregory Stephen and wife Tammy.
Leaving to carry on his zest for life are his wife, Dianna of the home; children: Nathan and wife Megan, Bogue, Megan and husband Eric Nickelson, Rose Hill; grandchildren: Ella, Eva, Ethan and Ean Hart; Carsen, Ainsley, Charlotte and Cameron Nickelson; his brother Jeff Hart and wife Joy, Salina; nephews: Justin, Britton, Micah Hart and families; mother-in-law, Agnes Stephen, Stockton; sister-in-law Kim Nutting, Bogue and numerous nieces and nephews as well as many friends. We can all hear him saying, “See ya around if you don’t get square.”
Visitation will be Tuesday from 3-7 p.m. at Stinemetz Funeral Home,
522 N. Pomeroy Avenue in Hill City. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Bogue United Methodist Church, 902 Hummingbird Road in
Bogue.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Scott Hart please visit Stinemetz Funeral Home's Tribute Store.