Steven Falls Down

Steven Ray Falls Down was born on January , 8, 1988 to Clifton and Valerie Falls Down in Billings, Mt. Kuashdakkachish “Comes out into the Middle” was called home by the Lord on November 27, 2022 after an extended illness. He was given his Indian name by his clan uncle Andrew Little Light. He was a Ties the Bundle and a child of the Big Lodge clan.

Steven began his schooling at the Pryor Head Start, continued at St. Charles School and graduated from Plenty Coups High in 2006. He began his higher education at Little Big Horn College and went on to Salish Kootenai College in Pablo Mt. While in middle school he started a travel basketball team named And One and they won numerous tournaments in the area. While in high school Steve excelled in cross country and basketball. He was a State Champion Cross Country runner and was known as a three point sniper who played in the Class “C” State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls during his high school career. While in college he pursued an education degree aspiring to be a high school P.E. teacher and coach.

After his playing days his passion for the game of basketball led him to coaching. He coached his brother in law's travel basketball team in youth tournaments such as the Poplar Youth Tournament. He was later hired as an Athletic Director and Assistant Boy's Basketball coach at Plenty Coups High. His favorite memory of coaching that team was when head coach Samuel “Buddy” Windy Boy was ejected with two technical fouls in the second quarter of the semi-finals of the Southern “C” Divisional Tournament against Park City. The Warriors were down by 15 points and Steve guided them to a comeback victory paving the way to the State Tournament for the Warriors in 2017.

Steve also exelled in the cultural games of arrow throwing and hand games He was a champion Junior Arrow Tournament thrower for the Lodge Grass and Owl Creek teams. He was also a Junior Hand Game Tournament champion for the Lodge Grass and Pryor District teams. He loved horse racing and was part owner of a Thoroughbred named “Bears Win” who won a race at the State Fair Race Meet in Great Falls, Mt. Another of his favorite memories was attending the All American Futurity in Ruidoso, NM with his wife and her parents. Steve also enjoyed singing Hand Game, Pow-Wow and Country Music love songs.

Steven married his high school sweetheart Jayschelle Bear Below and through this union was blessed with three beautiful daughters and two handsome sons. He consistently provided and worked for his family. He had numerous jobs with the Crow Tribe beginning with the Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Program . He was also employed by the Fish and Game Department as a dispatcher and also worked for the Beautification Program. Steve later worked as a substitute for the St, Charles School and then was hired as the Athletic Director and assistant Boys Basketball coach at Plenty Coups High. While in college at Salish Kootenai, he worked as a custodian at the St. Ignatious Schools, at the McDonalds and the Harvest Foods Grocery in Ronan. Once he arrived back from college he was hired under the ASC Program for the Crow Tribe.

Steven was an avid hunter and fisherman. He especially loved fishing with his family, especially Charlie. His favorite fishing memory was when Renzo caught his first fish and the rest of his children landed a trout at Sage Creek in the Pryor Mountains on Fathers Day 2020. He also loved family cook outs and his grandma Joyce's chocolate cream pies. Steve loved to travel with his family highlighted by their trips to Disney Land, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore. Steven had a special place in his heart for his favorite teachers Ms. Joyce and Fannie(Craig) Cliff, and coaches, Tommy Nagel, Gordon Real Bird Jr., Lawrence DeCrane Don Wetzel Sr. and Shawn Backbone.

Steven is survived by his wife Jayschelle, daughters Taylar Raylea, Kimberleigh Faith, Abigail Gladys Ruth (Baby Gal) and sons Charlie James and Lorenzo Drew. Parents; Clifton and Valerie, brothers; Wayman, Brendan (Pixie), Cole and Isaiah Falls Down sisters; Nathanna Whiteman, Darwina (Joseph) Knowsground, Tamara Armajo and Amber Bellrock. Grandparents; Woodrow Plainfeather, Mary, Althea, Rachel, and Angie DeCrane, Georgine and Rebecca Falls Down, Jennifer Onion, Barbara Bacon, Francine Amyotte, Marilyn and Paulette Not Afraid, Arivilla (Tom) Fly, Veronica (Heywood Jr.) Big Day, Marvin Falls Down, Rueben (Christine), Ellsworth (Polly), and Lawrence (Martha) De Crane, Garland, Marlin (Reva), and Leslie Not Afraid, Bruce White Sr., Gary Gardner, Blanche (Carl) Goes Ahead, Pam and Gail Bird Hat. Great Grandparents; Danny (Mary), Roland (Kathy) Plain Feather, Anges (Larry) Pretty Weasel, and Regina Goes Ahead. Aunts and Uncles; Reuben (Paulette), David, Marvin (Arianna) Jr., Ronald Jr., Andrew (Maria), Joshua (Jeanette) Falls Down, Luke (Marcie) Sr., Sampson (Veronica), Sidney, Liddon, Blake, Ethaniel (Angel), and Embry De Crane Rumeal Good Luck, J.D. and Dalson Blaine, Gary Birdinground, Bruce (Jennifer) White, Jr., Nadia (Curtis) Bad Bear, Sparky (Joanie) Pease, Gary Stevenson, Josh Buffalo, Chet Bird Hat, Garland, Jr., Julius, Leroy, Willis, Darnell, Marlin, Jr., Merval, Machiah Not Afraid, Denny Steffan, Bruce Other Medicine, Sunanne Iron, Leslie, Rolanda Plain Feather, Tanya Gardner, Rosabeth Turns Plenty, Bethany Bell Rock, Valerie Lavonne, Sonya Delphine, Janna, and Ranessa Falls Down, Candace (Christian) Brien, Shannon (Carl) Little Owl, Erica (Franco) Little Light, Brooke (Heath) Medicine Bull, Misty (Jonathon) Bright Wings, Heidi Amyotte, Shyloh, Barbie, Hillary Steffan, Bethany (Charlie) Ereaux, Mary Lee (Manuel) Whiteman, Jocelyn, Chelsea, Chamique, and Roberta Not Afraid, Deana Enemy Hunter, Francine, Gayle, and Trudy Bacon, Stephanie Henry, Kathy Haun, Jamie Blaine, Kirsten, Lawren, and JoVonne De Crane, Daralynn, Heidi Bright Wings, Becky Smallwood, Thelma (Dana) Bird, Rosie Other Medicine.

Steven was preceded in death by his Great Grandparents; Charlie & Gladys (Bird Hat) De Crane, Robert & Delphine (Back Bone) Falls Down, Sr., Cedric Rapheal & Henrietta (Pretty On Top) Plain Feather, Starr & Deana (Medicine Horse) Not Afraid, Sr., Walter Onion, Samuel, Leo, Lee and Merle Plainfeather,Raymond Falls Down Jr., Steven, Edward, Dallas and Chester Bird Hat, Thomas Decrane Sr., Vincent Sr., Sylvester Carty, and Clement Goes Ahead, Mary Dawes, Rose Turnsplenty, Josephine Whiteman, Beulah DeCrane and Gloria Cummins, Irene, Tillie, Florence and Nancy BirdHat, Roslee Turnsback, Romona Real Bird, Ida Falls Down, Phyllis Big Medicine, Frank Sr., William, Sr., Harold, Sr., Thomas Back Bone, Ruth Alden, Frances Bends, Angela Ruby Plain Feather, Shirley Pickett, Judy Bryant, Arvilla Plain Bull. And to all of our many extended families, please forgive us if we have missed you in the midst of our grief, our family is large.