Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2023
Scott Richard Caske Taḣca Wihni Hokṡida First Born Son Who Hunts for Deer, Boy Vig was born on October 13, 1981, in St. Louis Park, the son of Charlie Vig and Donna Kraemer Vig.
“I remember growing up across the street from Scott and Andy when we were really young,” said Kelly Evans. “My brother, Mike, would babysit the three of us by having us dig up worms in our yards to use for fishing.” Scott was always kind to everyone, according to Kelly. “He always treated you like you mattered.
“It seems silly, but I keep thinking about spearmint gum … in high school, Scott always had (and shared) spearmint gum. He was so kind, and smiley. He was dependable, always showing up when you needed him, and passionate about things that mattered. I remember he and Andy dancing for the school, and his laugh. I am grateful to have known him,” said friend Tana.
Scott Richard Caske Taḣca Wihni Hokṡida First Born Son Who Hunts for Deer, Boy Vig married Kristin Breault on October 6, 2007, at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake. Kristin’s parents were Gregg Breault, Hopkins and Karen O’Donnell of Prior Lake.
Scott and Kristin had three girls, Claire, Paige, and Reese. Scott was passionate about his daughters, wife, family, and friends and cherished the time spent with them.
“I never met a more kinder, caring, respectful person than Scott and a beautiful smile! Oh that smile!” said Rosie Heinicke. “Whenever he came to Pete and Tammy’s house I would go out to greet him and as he was walking up the driveway with that beautiful smile ‘Hi Rose’ he would then tell me all about you Kristen and what you have been up to. Then he would tell me about the girls and their dance. It was so clear the love he had for you and the girls. The pride in his voice about your girls.”
Scott served on the board of directors at Mystic Lake Casino as the treasurer. He had a knack for running equipment, construction and building projects, farming and the restoration of land, along with working with the Land of Natural Resources work group Infrastructure.
Scott and his brother, Austin, also owned Musky Bros. Tackle, which built custom musky lures. Scott enjoyed the outdoors and being in nature, going hunting, and fishing.
He performed in X-Games SnoCross and placed, and enjoyed snowmobiling, downhill skiing, four wheeling and dirt biking. He appreciated the time he got to spend volunteering and enjoyed any opportunity of having fun.
Scott Richard Caske Taḣca Wihni Hokṡida First Born Son Who Hunts for Deer, Boy Vig, a member of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, passed away accidentally Thursday, February 27, 2020, due to a terrible mechanical failure in Eden Prairie. He was 38 years old.
Kristin remembered, “On February 27, 2020, Scott was supposed to help his brother for a bit and then meet us back at home with dinner. He never came back. In a split second, our lives were forever changed. We were blindsided by the massive loss of a wonderful husband and plugged-in dad. He was many things to many people, but to us, he was our world and our world just stopped.” Kristin noted how to manage her grief, the household, and countless other things while helping her daughters cope.
“I just knew I couldn’t do this on my own,” said Kristin. “I needed a support system of highly experienced people to help guide us in putting the pieces of our family back together. I reached out to Sarah from The Grief Club of Minnesota. She was so kind and gentle with us every step of the way … We were able to access our grief in many different ways. Whether that was through a meaningful art project, a writing exercise, or by simply talking and sharing in laughter and in the pain.”
Scott was survived by his wife, Kristin; children, Claire, Paige, and Reese; parents, Charlie and Donna; siblings, Andrew (Anna) Vig and their sons, Wesley and Miles, Austin (Kelsey) Vig and their son, Beckett, Kevin Vig, Brooklyn (Jacob Thomas) Vig. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bernard and Elizabeth Vig, Vivian and Richard Kraemer; aunts and uncle, Doris Guion, Jim Vig, Darlene Matta, and Bob Theis.
Scott’s funeral was at the Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake. Officiating was Pastor Dan Poffenberger. Serving as pallbearers were Chad Nelson, Pete Didion, Ricky Vig, John Vig, Jr., Noel Perrier, Joey Vig, Brad Hoppe, Jason Vig, and Jesse Vig.
Scott Richard Caske Taḣca Wihni Hokṡida First Born Son Who Hunts for Deer, Boy Vig was buried at the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Cemetery in Prior Lake.
“What a kind loyal and selfless soul you were!” said friend Joel about Scott. “I always admired how you always seemed to have such patience and managed to hold everything together so well. You were such a great husband and father. From the time I first met you after you started dating Kristin when we were in high school 20 years ago to the time that I last saw you I can’t recall a time that I didn’t see that same smile that you had on your face. My mind is just flooding with all of the memories of you and awesome achievements you had and how hard of a worker you truly were. I will miss your laugh, and I will always try my hardest to keep your memory alive. Even though you are not here anymore you will be an internal compass to me on how to be a good man who can hold their head up high, and I can only hope to be half of the man that you were. Thank you, kind Sir.”
For more information about Tínṫa Otuŋwe and the Dakota people, Hoċokata Ti [ho-cho-kah-tah-tee], the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s (SMSC) cultural center and gathering space, is worth visiting. The public exhibit, “Mdewakanton: Dwellers of the Spirit Lake,” enhances the knowledge and understanding of the Mdewakanton Dakota people and their history. Hoċokata Ti is at 2300 Tiwahe Circle, Shakopee, MN 55379. (952) 233-9151.