Stephen Charles “Steve” Grantier, 74, Huntley MT, formerly of Watford City, died Thursday, March 11, 2021 at his home near Huntley. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. (CST) on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at First Lutheran Church in Watford City.
Steve was born February 4, 1947 in Williston to LJ “Buck” and Dorothy (Kerr) Grantier. He was raised on the Grantier Ranch north of Watford City and attended elementary and high school in Watford City where he participated in sports and was the life of the party. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and spent a year in Vietnam. Upon his release from the service, he started farming and ranching with his dad Buck and brother Jim. He married Denise Washburn on July 31, 1970 to which four children were born: Suzie, Stacy, Stephanie, and Jay.
Steve enjoyed the ranch life. He was happiest when he was on a good horse, whether rounding up cattle for branding or training his next prospect. He loved branding time on the ranch when all his friends and neighbors would gather. He talked often of those good memories. He spent many years riding and breaking horses for others until his health started to decline. Besides ranching, Steve also worked various jobs including the McKenzie County Road Dept. and Lund Oil, among others. Always a prankster, you had to watch your back around Steve! He was always quick with a laugh and liked to have fun.
In the last few years, Steve moved to Montana where he enjoyed his place up in the pines near Roundup, and most recently his horse property outside of Huntley. Steve could often be seen with a cowboy hat, a dog at his side, and riding a good horse, from the time he was a boy through his later years. One of Steve’s greatest joys was watching his kids and grandkids riding – he’d have a huge smile on his face. He loved watching rodeos and traveled frequently to see them and always watched them on TV. He loved his horses, cattle, time with family, and especially a good steak.
Steve is survived by his four children, Suzie (Cory) Thompson and their children, Paige (Jared) Ballweber, and Brady; Stacy (Brent) Arnegard and their children Ethan, Avery, and Brier; Stephanie (Jade) Falcon and their children Berkley, Parker, and Marlee; Jay (Lindsay) Grantier and their children Harrison, Murphy, and Kolt; two great-granddaughters, Finnley and Charlie Ballweber; two half- brothers, Perry (Cheryl) Colebank and Gary (Nancy) Colebank; sister-in-law, Rita Grantier; a special niece Jodi (Mike) Aubol and nephew Marty (Cheryl) Grantier; special aunts, Betty Kelly and Charlet Killough, and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Buck and Dorothy; his brother Jim Grantier; his half-brother Jeff Colebank; grandbaby Ashbey, and numerous ranching neighbors and friends that he now joins in Heaven.
Since Dad loved ranching, his horses, and the western way of life, in lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the ND Cowboy Hall of Fame, PO Box 137, Medora, ND 58645. Ride on, Cowboy!