By Jim Meridith
Posted: Updated:
8 Comments
  • Visitation

    Saturday, March 13, 2021

    10:00 am to 11:15am

    Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

    2250 HWY 157 South, Edwardsville, Illinois.

  • Full Obituary

    James “Scott” Boekhout, 63, of Highland, IL, returned home to his Father in Heaven on Wednesday, March 3rd 2021.

    Scott was born on November 24, 1957 to loving parents; James Julius Boekhout and Betty Jean Boyle. He was raised with two siblings Lynne (Samon) Phoomsathan, and Chris (Gina) Boekhout.

    As a young man, Scott developed a love for plants and studied horticulture at the local community college. He also enjoyed photography and had a passion for collectible cars. He especially loved Opal Gt’s. He always told the story of how he met his wife while driving his Opal in a parking garage in St. Louis.

    Scott was a business owner and entrepreneur. He opened a shop, Edgecliff, with his dad. The two ran their father/son business together for many years. They sold and installed satellite dishes, cell phones, rented moving trucks, and especially enjoyed selling Amish-made sheds. Scott found joy in his work and loved connecting with people in the Highland and surrounding areas. Many customers, and community members became close life-long friends.

    When Scott was 18, he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was a devout member and spent the rest of his life loving and serving as a teacher and missionary in the church. He found comfort and peace in his temple service and could often be found serving at the St. Louis Missouri Temple.

    Scott met the love of his life and was married to Alice Lynn Feitshans, on March 23, 1983. They brought into the world two sons; Matthew Boekhout, Mark (Janelle) Boekhout, and two daughters; Holly (Donald) Mendenhall, and Jaclyn (Jacob) Badger. In 1991 their family was sealed for time and all eternity in the Chicago Illinois Temple. Knowledge of the eternal nature of their family brought a deep sense of understanding and comfort to the family when Alice passed in 2005.

    Scott and Alice were blessed with eight wonderful grandchildren; four granddaughters and four grandsons. Clarissa, Alice, and Margaret Boekhout, and Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, and Aliza Mendenhall. The children have fond memories of Grandpa and his endless sense of humor. Some favorite memories include visits to his farmhouse, visits at Christmas time, homemade chocolate chip cookies, homemade pies, planting gardens, and watching cartoons together.

    As Scott neared the end of his mortal life, he was blessed with an opportunity to live close to some of his children and grandchildren. It was a blessing in so many ways. The recent pandemic allowed virtual, but more frequent and treasured connections for the rest of the family. While those left behind grieve this temporary separation, they rejoice in knowing that Scott has returned home and is reunited again with his parents, grandparents, beloved wife, sister (Lynne), and many, many, life-long friends. This is not good-bye. To our beloved Father, Grandpa, and Dear Friend, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.”

    Visitation:  Saturday, March 13, 2021,10:00 am to 11:15am,  at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2250 HWY 157 South, Edwardsville, Illinois.

    Masks will be required and social distancing observed.

    A private Funeral service will follow at 11:30 am. The public is welcome to join via Zoom for the funeral service:

    Scott Boekhout Funeral Service
    Time: Mar 13, 2021 11:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

    Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83692005756?pwd=NzE1MnFvZ3BFKzdWQVM3SGFzbmc1Zz09

    Meeting ID: 836 9200 5756
    Passcode: 472416

    Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL

Condolences are reviewed and published within 24 hours.

8 Condolences
 
  1. Sandy Matsuda / March 8, 2021 at 2:09 pm

    Scott, my brother-in-law, was an amazing father and husband. My thoughts and prayers go out to his loving children and precious grandchildren.
    We know he is at peace and at home with his family on the other side, and yet he is missed dearly by those who loved him so on this earth.
    He had a flare to make people smile and laugh and was generous to a fault in helping others when they needed a helping hand. He was devoted to his wife Alice and cared for her through a tough cancer journey. He left no stone unturned in trying to give her comfort and support. He created beautiful gardens and experiences for her and the children which they remember and treasure still. He planted both vegetable, fruit and flower gardens wherever he live including a raised bed at his last home in Houston with his son Mark and family. In his last year, he knew the joy of seeing three beautiful little granddaughters grow with a loving family around him and visits from Matt, Jaclyn and Holly and their families.
    It could not have been easy being a single father to 4 children but he continued to love them all into adulthood and to rejoice in the grandchildren who came along and to meet them all including the youngest, Aliza. He served God and others throughout his life and left this world a better place. His smile and his presence will be deeply missed. God be with you till we meet again, Scott. Peace and comfort be with your family..

  2. Douglas Burcham / March 9, 2021 at 6:25 pm

    Matt, Mark, Holly and Jaclyn,

    Please let me express my condolences and most heartfelt sympathies to you, your families and children. I have many wonderful memories of Scott and your mother/grandmother Alice. All my love strength prayers and support…..from Douglas and his fiancee Sierra Klinghammer…..

  3. Rj & Liz Mendenhall / March 9, 2021 at 6:33 pm

    I didn’t know Scott to much but they sure did a good job raising their kids.

    May God’s choicest blessings be yours as you celebrate his life and example.

  4. SHERI J ERNST / March 12, 2021 at 9:27 am

    So sorry for the loss of your father and grandfather. Scott was a neighbor and we rode the same bus. My fondest memory of Scott was his love for plants and flowers. He was forever leaving flower arrangements in my locker at school after he came back from his horticulture classes in Collinsville. He always brightened up my day. God Bless you all.

  5. Steve Badger / March 13, 2021 at 12:04 pm

    We sure enjoyed meeting Scott on several occasions and his family. We are so blessed to have Jaclyn as part of our family. Thank you Scott for raising a beautiful eternal family. The Badgers

  6. Pam Brydon Haws / March 13, 2021 at 12:58 pm

    I love Scott and Alice..They were so much fun and the best people ever…I have fond memories of our time together sharing the carefree days of nursing school, then marriage, young adulthood and raising a family…They definitely left this world a better and happier place and are the salt of the earth..Their wonderful faithful children and grandchildren are their crowning legacy…

  7. Shareese Sumpter / March 13, 2021 at 1:11 pm

    Here at Sky’s Unlimited Personal Home Care where Mr. Scott as we called him took his last breath was so loved by Shareese, Shana, and Mr. Tom(his roommate). Mr. Scott had such a great sense of humor and we loved his jokes. Mr. Tom and him use to talk about traveling and they loved each other’s company. I(Shareese) use to rub his hair and tell him that he had the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen and he would say “really you think so” and we would laugh. Later his daughter Jacyln told me he use to be a model back in the day. I could see why with his great personality, lovely hair, and good looks. I will never forget when I came into his room he said “hey good looking”. That made by day! Mr. Scott was a fighter and he fought to the very end. I told him all the time how blessed he was to have such a lovely family who loved and cared for him so much. I know that’s what carried him through on his tough days. They were there until the end and I truly believe that he finally knew he could rest with the right hand of the Father Lord Jesus Christ. I know Mr. Scott is at peace now and joking and having a great time in Heaven. We at Sky’s Unlimited miss him everyday and Mr. Tom said one night that he heard snoring and Shana who is the caregiver said that is Mr. Scott letting us know he is ok. Mr. Tom misses his buddy very much who he called Scottie. Mr. Scott will always be in our hearts. Condolences to the family and his friends. You all will be in our continous prayers🙏

  8. Trevor J. Leabo / July 1, 2021 at 7:53 pm

    To Scott’s Family,
    I wouldn’t be the man i am today if not for Scott and his family. I met him and his family, and through them my life changed. Through my association with him, he was the image of strength, courage, patience, and compassion. He is truly what a man should strive to be. I will always remember our time together when he taught me how to drive a manual transmission. He made it fun! When i had children of my own, i wanted him to stand in when we blessed my daughter. He was like a father to me, and I always looked up to him. To Matt, Mark, Holly, and Jaclyn, I am sorry for your loss. He will be missed, but this is just a temporary goodbye.
    -Trevor

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