Steve “Dutch” Dutcher knows it sounds strange, but his five-month fight against cancer remains one of the best experiences of his life. “It totally changed me for the better,” he says.
A sharp stomach pain was diagnosed as stage four lymphoma in Dutcher’s liver. As he prepared for six intense chemotherapy treatments in early 2021, Dutcher and his family were overcome with support from their community in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
“I’ll never forget every call, text, and meal. I still don’t know who put a sign in our yard that said ‘Dutch Strong,’” says Dutcher, who graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in management with an emphasis in finance. “My in-laws arranged for a parade of cars to drive by our cul-de-sac before my first treatment. My wife and I cried the whole 30 minutes. People wrote on their cars, ‘You can do this. We love you. Stay strong.’”
Dutcher and his wife, McKenna, shared treatment updates on social media. “We would record videos on our way to chemo and open our hearts to what was going on,” he recalls. “We thought we could uplift others, but we ended up getting blessed more.”
Like overcoming cancer, Dutcher’s experience going through the Church’s pornography addiction recovery program (ARP) has also been a blessing in his life. “My wife and I attended out of desperation; I needed help, and we wanted to save our marriage,” he says. “The program offers baby steps to applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ for lasting change.”
After Dutcher found sobriety, he and McKenna spent four years serving as as volunteer facilitators at weekly ARP meetings, and the couple continues to share their experience with others. “It’s somewhat rare for an addict to share his story, and it’s super rare for a spouse to share her story,” Dutcher says. “Addiction is isolating, but there’s power in connecting with people.”
Two years ago, Dutcher was called as a counselor in his ward bishopric. “Our bishop had a prompting to call me but thought, ‘Dutch just got done with cancer. He needs a break,’” Dutcher says. “But our bishop couldn’t stop thinking about my ability to empathize with those who are going through hard times—which is everyone.”
Navigating cancer and addiction has cemented what really matters to Dutcher: spending time with McKenna and their four boys. This perspective has also influenced his work as general manager of Action Motor Sports, a powersports dealership, where he has adopted the slogan “Make time to make memories.”
“When you get sick, you realize the most valuable resource in the world is your time,” says Dutcher, who also manages High Mountain Adventures and Sawtelle Mountain Resort in Island Park, Idaho. “Dirt bikes, boats, snowmobiles, Jet Skis—none of that really matters. But when you’re using them to create memories, you can’t put a price on that. Real fulfillment comes from spending time with your loved ones.”
