Alvin Iron

Alvin Bruce Iron, 71, passed away on November 15, 2020 at the Billings Clinic. He was born February, 24 1949 to Ralph and Ada (Hugs) Iron, Sr. in Crow Agency. He was a child of Piegan and member of the Greasy Mouth Clan. He was known by many as Bruce. He attended school at the St. Xavier Public School and received his diploma from Hardin High School. He attended Haskell Nation Indian University In Lawrence, Kansas for 1 year, before returning home to help on the family ranch. He married Faith “Gail” Stewart and the couple made their home on West Soap Creek and Ft. Smith. They were married for 48 years. He was an active member of the Pentecostal Church. He preached the word and was a devoted, Christian man. He preached from Canada to Arizona. Bruce was a 3rd generation Rancher on West Soap Creek. In his early years, he was the Chairman for the Land Resource Committee and served as a Big Horn District Housing Board member. Bruce and his brothers and sisters ran the Okabeh Marina one summer. In the 70's Bruce and his brothers worked at the Buffalo Pasture, preparing for the first Buffalo to come. He enjoyed teaching and guiding his children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren while working cattle. One of the greatest things he loved to do was watch and spend time with his grandchildren. Whether it be in sports, fishing, hunting, working on their vehicles and farm machinery or just spending time with them. During his younger years, he enjoyed hunting on horseback with his brothers. He often spoke about their trips to the Buffalo Pasture riding through Soldier's Trail. He loved to ride his snowmobiles up to the mountains during the winter. In his later years, Bruce took yearly hunting trips to the Garvin Basin, through Lovell during the winter, often leading the group down devil's canyon. Bruce loved to Rodeo and see his children and grandkids rodeo. In the early 80's, the family had a rodeo club and Bruce and his brothers were stock contractors. He later helped form the Big Horn District Committee and they held jackpots at the family arena on Warman Loop, Marty He Does It's and Tommy Little Owl's arena's. Some of his biggest accomplishments include winning various saddles and buckles in both heading and heeling and Senior Breakaway. He traveled the Indian Rodeo Circuit from Calgary, Alberta, Canada to San Carlos, Arizona. We have a huge Rodeo family and he was extremely grateful for all the support we received while traveling. One of his best memories was traveling to Alberta, Canada to rodeo in Sarcee and Brocket, winning the Senior Pro Breakaway at the Piikani Nation Rodeo. That same year he also won the Senior Pro Breakaway and Senior Team Roping during Crow Fair. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Ada Iron, Sr; his brothers Sylvester Iron, Garland Iron, Dallas Hugs and Lewis Stewart; his sisters Sylvia and Yvonne Iron, Violet and Verna Hugs, Arvilla Plain Bull, Patsy White Hip. His good friends Leland Walking Bear and Louie Goodluck. Bruce is survived by his wife; daughters Sandy(Neil White Hip), Ada and Kim Iron, Stacey(Seth) Redding and Sunni Dixon; his sons Bobbi Stiffarm and Andre LaFrance; his grandchildren Robin(Emmi) Old Coyote, Sylvia Old Coyote, Austin(Vana), Ra'el and Tronson Monroy, Curtis Pretty On Top, Alvin Joseph “AJ” Small, Callie and Jaylin Dixon, JoRee, Taylor and Strann LaFrance, Saile, Shane and Sterling Redding, Tylee Buck, Bud Buck, Buck Pretty On Top; his great grandchildren Cherish and Mila Old Coyote and Carlido Monroy, Archer Arrow Fox; his sisters Daisy Iron, Sandra Grant, Dorcella Little Light, Beldean (Blaine) Small and Clara Hugs; his brothers Edward (Mary), Ray (Melva) Iron, Norman (Lynn) Morrison, LT (Tami), Elias (Theo) Hugs, Gary(Virjama) Plainbull, Clyde (Nellie) Littlelight. His good friend Ed RealBird. His extended family includes Iron, Hugs, Morrison, Plain Bull, Yarlott, Bends, Old Horn, Leider, Black Hawk, Goes Ahead, Not Afraid, Plain Feather, Walks Over Ice, Black Eagle, Goodluck, Dawes and Nomee families. Our family is large, we apologize if we have missed you in our time of grief. In our time of grief, these words have been used to explain our dad, “He was well respected, humble, kind hearted, a good man, awesome role model, and always had good things to say about everyone.” Graveside services will be held on Thursday November 19th at the Big Horn Baptist Church Cemetery in Ft. Smith at 11:00 am. Dahl Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.