Memorial Folder

Bert LeRoy Steppler was born on a frosty day, August 19, 1950, in Sidney, MT, to Cal and Jane (Sallaberry) Steppler. He was the second of three children. Bert attended Mona School throughout his elementary years and graduated at the top of his class – a class of one. He attended Culbertson High School, graduating in 1968. Bert then attended Montana State University Bozeman and graduated from Billings Vo-Tech College in 1971. A short time later he obtained his private pilot’s license.
Following college, he returned to the family farm and ranch in the Mona Community where he lived and worked with his dad and brother. In early 1979, Bert met Kris Kjelgaard, originally from south of Wolf Point, who was teaching in Fairview. It didn’t take long for Bert to decide that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and they were married on November 24, 1979. They lived at Andes until they built their new home at Mona. Bert and Kris were blessed with three children during their years together - Verlin (1980), Cody (1982), and Loni (1984).
As a child, Bert was a member of the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. He was also on the Charlie Creek baseball team. During his high school years he was active in basketball, football, FFA, and choir. As an adult, he enjoyed the Charlie Creek Jaycees, Trinity Lutheran Church Men’s Choir, Richland County Weed District, Culbertson School Board, Elmdale Community softball, and being a Hunter’s Safety Instructor.
His passions in life were first and foremost his wife and three children, flying, hunting, horses, quality cattle, straight fences, his farm and ranch lifestyle. His falls and winters were filled with following the Culbertson basketball and football teams - especially watching his children’s games and working on the “chain gang”. In recent years, Bert’s sons Verlin and Cody returned to live and work on the family farm and ranch, and Bert was proud that they decided to continue the family tradition. God, family, friends, good neighbors, Ford pickups, and John Deere equipment have helped to hold everything together throughout the years.
We will miss Bert’s smile, laugh, jokes, stories, willingness to help anyone, heated discussions (arguments), hard work ethic, perfectionism, and his ability to be a jack of all trades.
Bert died peacefully on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, at the Sidney Health Center in Sidney, MT, following complications from a stroke.
Bert is survived by his wife, Kris; sons, Verlin (Kayla Barenthsen) Steppler, and Cody Steppler, all of Culbertson, MT; a daughter, Loni Steppler, Williston, ND; father, Cal Steppler, Culbertson, MT; brother, Dean (Doris) Steppler, Culbertson, MT; sister, Sharon Steppler, Billings, MT; his aunt, Frances Steppler, Elmdale, MT; nephew, Wes (Lisa) Steppler, Culbertson, MT; great nephew, Cal Steppler, Culbertson, MT; nieces, Cara (Nick) Dalbey, Federal Way, WA, Shannon (Nate) Yonts, Salt Lake City, UT; Kyla (Dan Koler) Steppler, Billings, MT; mother-in-law, Hazel Kjelgaard, Wolf Point, MT; brother-in-law, Dave (Sylvia) Kjelgaard, Wolf Point, MT; and numerous double cousins.
Bert was preceded in death by his mother, Jane Steppler; maternal grandparents, Bert and Marie Sallaberry; paternal grandparents, Roy and Clara Steppler; his aunt, Irene (Steppler) Freebury; his uncle, David Steppler; father-in-law, Arnold Kjelgaard; and a close friend, Verlin Martin.