Grant Alan Stafne

Grant was born on July 28, 1967, to A. T. "Rusty" and June Shields Stafne in San Jose, Calif.

He joined a sister, Twilia Bear Cub, and a brother Tom. The family moved back to Montana and the Fort Peck Reservation shortly after his birth. Grant had so much energy and always was doing something crazy. His sense of humor was on point always and he teased everyone and I mean everyone for no one was safe from him. Laughter followed Grant where he was. He kept the family on their toes with his antics.

He attended school in Wolf Point, Mont., graduating in 1985. That year, he went to state in track for high jump. He went to Haskell for two years and Dawson Community College. He loved sports such as basketball and baseball. But his favorite is Rodeo. Specifically, the Wild Horse Race. He won many events and had championship belt buckles from all over. He belonged to the Fort Peck Rodeo club and the INFR. He was instrumental in getting the Fort Peck Rodeo established and part of the circuit. He loved riding horses and was planning on team roping with his friends this summer.

He worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs starting in 1993 to 1998 as a realty clerk at Fort Peck Agency. He then became a Realty Specialist in Fort Belknap until 2001. Where he went to work in Billings, Mont., as the Realty Specialist for the Rocky Mountain Region. He was detailed to Albuquerque, N.M., as a Realty Officer then in October of 2002, he went to Nashville, Tenn., where he became a country singer.. sang at the Grand Ole Opry. (Gotcha Grant-you'd do that to me!) No, really he was a Realty officer for the Eastern Region, Division of Trust Responsibilities.

In 2003, he moved back to Fort Belknap as Realty Officer, then became the BIA Deputy Superintendent in 2004-2008. Grant moved back home to the Fort Peck Reservation to be the BIA Deputy Superintendent at the Agency, 2008-2011. He loved his people and served on the Fort Peck Tribal Executive board with our dad as Tribal Chairman for a few years. Grant then served his brothers faithfully, the Tataga (buffalo). Grant felt the need to run again for tribal executive board winning a seat. In 2022, Grant saw that the Fort Peck Agency needed a Deputy Superintendent-Trust and applied for the position where he served until his death.

Grant married Mary Jackson and had all sons. They later divorced. Grant was a great single father for years. He took pride in his cooking, often posting pictures of his cuisine he would chef up. He coached little league baseball for his boys. He loved following the Wolf Point Wolves basketball team, being their biggest fan. He was so proud of his boys. He fell in love with the beautiful Clarissa Bell, from Fort Belknap, the summer of 2023. They became engaged and were to be married in the summer. They were the happiest couple around.

Grant was diagnosed with colon cancer in November and had surgery to remove the tumor in December. He was in the process of chemotherapy in the stage 3 process. He succumbed to it on Friday, March 15, 2024.

We will never understand why such a great man who loved life, loved his people, his children, his grandchildren, his family, his job, and his friends would be taken from us. The Creator needed him more and am positive there is laughter where he is now.

Survived by his father A.T. "Rusty" Stafne, sister Twilia Bear Cub, his beloved fiancée Clarissa Bell, his children, Ariana Neutgens, RaShane Walking Eagle, Chryss Jackson, Clay, Cauy, Cade, Chief, and Cewl Stafne.

He will be missed by his brother Junior White Eagle (Sandra); nieces June Azure and Jade Daniels; nephews Jordan Stafne, Jesse Daniels, Jace Daniels and Wilder Bear Cub; cousin Sybil Duchene; and his aunts, Sherry Shields, Sandy Azure and Yvonne Shields.

Other survivors are his Uncle Stoney Anketell, Shields cousins, Pipe cousins, Balch cousins, Azure cousins, Baker cousins, James cousins, Cantrell cousins, Denny cousins, Anketell cousins, and Medicine Cloud cousins.

He will be terribly missed by his grandchildren, Mia, Jordan, Vanessa, and Rusti Cecelia.

His adopted families include the Adams Family, Red Eagle/Dionne family as he took Maureen as his sister, and many more. His work families will miss his wit and knowledge.

He was preceded in death of our mother June Shields Stafne; brother Tom Stafne and his son Delmar Martell. His aunts Joy Shields, Shirley Shields, Roseann Shields, Joy Martin, Joanne Pipe, Marie Esparza; uncles Gary Medicine Cloud, Caleb Shields, Ken Azure, Fish Red Stone and Robert Martin; cousins Larry Connor, Pat Clements, Kenny Heathman, Ken Azure, Jr. Antoinette Shields and John Pipe.

We are related to many as we come from the Medicine Cloud/Hancock family, Shields family, Nakoda and Dakota Wadopana and Bad Temper Bear clans. If we left out anyone, it was not intentional, please forgive us we are in shock of losing our GRANT.

A prayer service was held at 7 p.m. on March 22, at the Wolf Point Community Hall. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on March 23, in the Wolf Point High School Auditorium.

Burial took place at the Stafne Ranch. A luncheon followed back at the Wolf Point Community Hall.