Obituary: William F. "Bill" Stiffarm

William F. "Bill" Stiffarm, "Nah-Nee-Thoughts-ick" (Stands Alone), 79, passed away Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, at Fort Belknap Health Services.

Traditional family wake started 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, until this morning at the family residence in Fort Belknap. Funeral services were 11 a.m., today, Jan. 23, 2017, at the St. Paul Mission in Hays. Burial followed in the Stiffarm Family Cemetery outside of Hays.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please visit Bill's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Bill was born Oct. 29, 1937, in Hays to Thomas and Vina (Maloney) Stiffarm. He was raised in Hays until his family moved to Fort Belknap Agency during his school years. Bill graduated from Harlem High School in 1955 and worked for a couple of years before attending Northern Montana College, receiving his associate degree in 1960.

After college graduation, Bill joined the U.S. Navy and served until his honorable discharge in 1963.

Sept. 27, 1965, Bill married Marlene Horseman in Chinook, and the couple made their home in Fort Belknap, where they raised their five biological and two adopted children. For 37 years, Bill worked for Indian Health Service until his stroke forced him to retire.

Bill enjoyed woodworking and puttering around the yard. He had to have his newspaper every day and was the sole surviving member of the original Hays Singers. He loved his children, but he absolutely adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who were the light of his life.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Vina Stiffarm; his son, Duane Stiffarm; and all but two of his siblings.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Marlene Stiffarm of Fort Belknap; his eight children Dean (Tina) Stiffarm Sr. of Chinook, Elizabeth Stiffarm, Diane Stiffarm, John Stiffarm, Coleman (TaLayna Oats) Stiffarm, Jayde Stiffarm, Marsha Cochran and Stacy Cole, all of Fort Belknap, and Shawn (Gustavo) Drago of Harlem; his daughter-in-law, Tricia Stiffarm of Fort Washakie, Wyoming; his grandchildren, Dean Stiffarm Jr., Colleen Stiffarm, Chance Stiffarm, Colton Stiffarm, Che Stiffarm, Collette Stiffarm, Taylor Stiffarm, Laticia Stiffarm, Lalayna Stiffarm, Kaidyn Stiffarm, Jordan Stiffarm, Jaiymiee Stiffarm, Joseph Stiffarm, Titus Stiffarm, John Stiffarm Jr., and Tyra Stiffarm; his great-grandchildren, Caleb Stiffarm, Courtlyn Stiffarm, Sequoia Stiffarm, Treyton Mount, Kez'mae Stiffarm, and the love his daily life, Braiylee Stiffarm; his adopted brothers, Neil (Deeda) Adams, of Arlee, and Gail (Bobbi) Adams and Francis "Cutt" Adams, all of Fort Belknap; his sisters, Mary (Frank) Adams, Mel (Adams) Doney and Nancy (George) Boushie, all of Fort Belknap; and numerous beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.