Obituary - Steven "Steve" Daniel Stiffarm

Steven “Steve” Daniel Stiffarm was called home to join his ancestors. He began his next journey peacefully in the love and comfort of his family from Great Falls, MT, March 1, 2023.

Steve was born on August 7, 1949, to Peter Stiffarm and Ruby Chief Goes Out at the Fort Belknap Agency. His childhood travels led him across the Hi-Line of Montana, graduating from Browning High School in 1967. He furthered his education with a bachelor’s degree in radio and television communications, University of Montana, 1974, and a master’s degree in library science, University of South Dakota, 1976.

An avid reader and writer, his passions were felt in his work with Indian clubs at University of Montana, Montana State University-Northern (then Northern Montana College) and and Montana State University sports were his love, and he was regularly seen covering events for newspapers throughout Montana. Not limited to printed words, his voice was heard broadcasting events on the radio at college and high school levels in Montana and Idaho.

A man of a plethora of interests and knowledge, he enjoyed reciting histories and stories of the near and distant past. Tales of boxing matches in Shelby, Montana, history, Native traditions, Mongol invasions, Olympians Jim Thorpe and Tarzan Brown were all told with equal vigor and enthusiasm. His tongue-in-cheek storytelling of the last Indian of a set of brothers needed to sign a treaty was being searched for in vain by the United States, in need of assistance, signs were posted everywhere reading “Watch for Fallen Rock.” Such were his talents.

Steve is now reunited with his parents, brothers Leslie Stiffarm, Wesley Stiffarm, Arthur “Arsh” Stiffarm, infant twin sisters Cecelia and Delia Stiffarm, and son Jeremy Douglas Stiffarm.

He is survived by brothers Loren “Bum” (Barb) Stiffarm of Harlem, MT, Garland “Ping” (Lee “Pee Wee”) Stiffarm of Browning, MT, sister Thelma Stiffarm of Albuquerque, NM, son Daniel Allen Stiffarm and daughter, Rhonda RaeDee Stiffarm of Spokane, WA.