Scott Albers, 64, died peacefully in Miles City after a sudden but mercifully swift battle with brain cancer.
The eldest of four, Scott was born in Champaign, Illinois in 1958. His childhood and teenage years were spent throughout Illinois, Missouri, and Florida. Growing up he was fiercely independent and pored over books, becoming a voracious reader and developing a lifelong love – and often encyclopedic knowledge – of history. He enjoyed series like The Andy Griffith Show (he referred to his part-time residence of Choteau as “Mayberry”) and knew after watching Perry Mason that he wanted to be a lawyer. Once he began playing the piano, he also immersed himself in music, which would serve as both a creative and intellectual outlet throughout his life; he wrote his own compositions, as well as played intricate, classical concertos and early jazz ballads, often colored by his own improvisational whims. If you search for Scott’s music online, you will find it on most streaming services; his family recently uploaded his recordings so they can be enjoyed by others.
His twenties were shaped by a number of moves – first from St. Louis, Missouri to the University of Colorado: Boulder; from there to the American College in Paris, where he served nearby as an artist in residence; he then completed his undergraduate degree at St. Louis University, and lastly attended law school at the University of Missouri: Columbia. His stories of Boulder always centered on his formative time and friendships in the Rocky Flats Truth Force, a group that protested nuclear proliferation. For decades afterward, he spoke proudly about being arrested with other members of the group. There is no shame in being arrested for a fight you feel is worth fighting, he often reminded his children, sometimes suggesting that everyone should know such a fight.
That sense of righteousness – along with his innate inquisitiveness, relentless advocacy, and philosophical mind – animated his entire career as a criminal defense attorney. He first served as a public defender in both Jackson, Missouri and Sedalia, Missouri before falling in love with Glacier National Park and leaving the Midwest for Montana in 1994. He took the role of Chief Public Defender in Great Falls and launched his solo practice there a few years later. In 2000, he received the Montana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MTACDL) award for Lawyer of the Year. Having moved frequently in his own childhood, and despite the adversity he faced in the local legal community, he prioritized putting down roots for his children and would not move again until 2018.
That year he opened his Helena practice in Reeder’s Alley, enchanted by its brickwork and narrow little streets. Over the last five years, he made his office there as interesting and individualistic as his own life, often playing the piano in his front room and chatting with visitors who strolled by and stopped to listen. The places he lived and the relationships he developed were touched by his poetic sensitivity, love of beauty, boundless creativity, witty humor, and deep imagination.
Scott was blessed with three children – Andrew, Alison, and Rachel – and a 23-year marriage to his first wife, Claire; he remarried in 2022 to his second spouse, Charity Nakabugo. Other surviving family members include his mother, Muriel Albers, and siblings: Jeff Albers, John Albers, and Alison Burns. His family would like to thank Holy Rosary Hospice for the compassionate care they showed him in his final weeks.
Please join us to celebrate Scott’s life on Saturday, September 23rd. We will gather in Reeder’s Alley, in Helena from 3pm–6pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation is suggested to the ACLU of Montana. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Colin Stephens says
As the former president of the Montana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, our organization owes a lot to the inspiration and care Scott brought to public defense in Great Falls. I had a hearing with him shortly before he was diagnosed and it was an honor to share the defense table with him. I and the criminal defense bar will miss him very much.
lisa amille swanson says
Thank you Scott for being real! So damn sorry to hear of your unexpected and sudden departure. My heart goes out to you, your children, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, extended family and countless friends who like you, defend the poor, the damned and the downtrodden. I will never forger your deep, soulful, blue eyes, … your humanity and desire for real human interaction and connection. I recently deleted my fakebook account as it is no substitute for real human interactions . . So I thank you for reaching out, for your courage and willingness to be vulnerable. Ironically it is when we are most vulnerable that we come closest to meeting our greatest strengths. “. . . And in the end, the love you lost is equal to the love you . . . ” I always screw up the words on songs! lol. A beatles song…..” I argued endlessly with my Dad when I was 7 that the chorus line to song, I’m a Believer” was, “she had a sour face.” You may be gone from this earth but never forgotten. God bless you Scott and may the love you gave continue to light your way across the universe and beyond. Your fellow traveller, LAS
Jerry & Joanna McAllister says
We are so sorry to hear of Scott’s passing. We were neighbors for many years and enjoyed watching you kids grow up with ours. We’ve all moved from the old neighborhood but it is with fond memories we think of those years with Scott.
Idalia Mendez says
I met Scott in 2005 after a long online relationship. We spent many hours talking on the phone. We finally met and flew to Paris together. We enjoyed a wonderful week getting to know each other. We spent hours talking about our children. He showed me around Paris. We maintained a phone friendship for years. He came to Austin to visit me in 2018. It was funny that he had no idea how hot Austin would be in summer!!
We stayed in touch until about 2022. Today I searched his number and read this obituary. Perhaps he was already ill. He called me “his Texas wife”. My heart is heavy reading this. May his family be ok today. He was a wonderful man and I enjoyed the short time I had with him.
Brian Azure says
Mr. Albers was a man that had a passion for sure I did not know at all but he defended me as the Head PD in Great Falls, from our initial meet he seen something in my person that sparked something for me to grasp and that was the Lord in Jesus name I apologize if that offends anyone I mean not. From this what I’ve read him and I are a lot alike, it’s so crazy life brings you. May Creator Bless his children and family. I’m working on a Hip Hop Album myself with a creativity yet to be heard maybe I’ll see if I can get some clips of his to put into mine maybe we will see. I talked to him a few years ago about legal advice for my step kid and he remembered me it was shocking. But I’m glad he got to see me at a high point in my life that was only an illusion but I guess life is. May he Rest in Power! A’ho in Jesus Christs name Father forgive us please? Amen!