Steve died December 6, 2018, from complications due to pancreatic cancer and diabetes. He grew up in Dixon, MT, at the Tribal Agency and was a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Steve started fighting fire in Southern California with the Los Prietos Hotshots and rookied at Missoula in 1962. He jumped 1962-86, and 1990-93 retiring in 1994 with 504 career jumps.

Steve traveled many miles throughout Montana, Idaho and the Dakotas recruiting youth in small towns and reservations for careers in smokejumping. After retiring from the Forest Service, Steve moved to the Flathead Indian Reservation at St. Ignatius.