Born at midnight between the 29 th & 30 th of July, James Kipp Stiffarm ‘s parents, James “Tater” Stiffarm & Jonny Cantrell Bearcub chose the beginning a new day, July 30 th , 1976 as his date of birth. He was called Kipp or Kipper most of his life. He carries the name of his maternal great grandfather, Harvey Bearcub, TaShunga Hunga – His Horses Chief given him by his great-uncle Jerome Fourstar. Kipp is a member of the Hude’Sana’ and Wadopana Clans of the Nakota Nation. He was raised in the LDS an Wicohan (tribal) religions.
He attended HeadStart, Elementary and Jr High schools in Wolf Point, MT. Two years at Golden High School in Golden, CO lettering in Cross Country – his was the team that went and took State Championship after many years. He returned to Wolf Point for his Jr & Sr year graduating in 1994 and immediately joined the US Marine Corp. He became a diesel auto mechanic while in the Marines. He received his CDL and worked as a Semi-truck driver for Iron Woman Construction & Environmental Services driving big rigs all over in metro-Denver. He learned many construction skills from friends & relatives and worked construction. He was a security guard for the Brown Palace in Denver, Co and for Silver Wolf Casino.
When he was 4 years old, his Uncle Jonathan Windy Boy, would come to the house and teach Kipp and his brothers how to grass dance, tell them the stories of how it came to the people, the ceremonies and the Society. Out of the three boys, Kipp took up the dance of his uncles and grandpas carrying on the family tradition. When he became a teenager one of his Grandpa’s on his mother’s side, Willis Packineau, gave him his beaded regalia to go with his grass dance outfit. He loved the way his Grandpa Willis and Uncle Johnathan danced. He served as Flag Bearer, Drum Keeper, Lodge Keeper and Committee member for the Red Bottom Celebration Committee throughout his life, sponsored by his grandparents Viola & Larry Wood.
Young teen love between Kipp & Carrie Shawl blessed him with his 1 st son, Jerreth Jaymz Shawl-Rider. His next love, Arlene “Baby” Riley, blessed him with son Andy Edmont, 2 daughters, Jaymee Lee & Arlene Nevaeh, and son Joseph Kipp Ethan Stiffarm. He was married then divorced. His last love and best friend is Michelle Clancy.
He was big hearted and had many friends, hunka brothers and sisters, beloved cousins, aunts, uncles, grandma’s & grandpa’s. He kept close to his brotherhood of Marine buddies – his life long friends & forever brothers. He was Uncle to many kids. He loved to joke and tease and never backed down from a good fight. He was a scrapper. He was many things to many folks but most of all he was loved.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Jeremy Tate Stiffarm, his children’s mother Arlene Riley along with many relatives from his maternal and paternal sides of his family. He is survived by his son, Jerreth Jaymz Shawl–Rider (Wolf Point), son, Andy E. Riley (Arizona), daughter Jaymee Lee (Lacey Bettelyoun) Stiffarm (New Mexico), son, Joseph Ethan Kipp Stiffarm (Wolf Point), daughter Arlene Nevaeh Riley (New Mexico), his significant other & best friend Michelle Clancy (Wolf Point), his mother, Jonny (Wolf Point) and father, “Tater”(Velma) of Porcupine, SD, brother Joshua (Lilly) Stiffarm (Aurora, CO) & sisters JoDene (Francis) Sherwood (Aurora, CO), Victoria(Dave) Adams (Billings, MT) and Libby(John) Imlay (Havre, MT) He leaves behind many relatives from the families of the Stiffarm, Kipp, Fluery, King, Bearcub, Cantrell, Wood, Sherwood, Tattoo, Schneider, McClammy, Riley, Miller, Headdresses, SpottedBirds, and O’Watchs, plus extended family from north and south of the Medicine Line. We have a very large and extended family and if we missed you, just know it was not intentional.
A wake will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 28, 2021 at the Wolf Point Community Hall. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 29, 2021 at the Wolf Point Community Hall. Interment will follow at the Oswego Presbyterian Cemetery.