Steve Medley Bennett, 73

Steven Medley Bennett, an almost life-long resident of Columbia Falls, died April 19th. Steve was born April 4th, 1951, to Martha and Dr. Willard F. Bennett. Joining a brother, Gary, the family lived in the Hungry Horse Dam housing complex. Doc Bennett had established a clinic there in 1948. Steve met his first friends in Hungry Horse—it’s where he got his first tricycle and bicycle, developing a life-long love for riding. His first Schwinn was probably a 24 instead of a 20—he always was—tall. When the dam was complete, the family moved to Columbia Falls where Steve entered grade school continuing through Junior High and High School in District 6. He played trombone for Don Lawrence in the school bands, both basketball and football for the Wildcats.

Cars and working on them was one of Steve’s favorite things. He had the only new Corvette in the high school parking lot. He liked going fast and developed a love for motorcycles but when he flew for the first time in an airplane, he was hooked. He bought a Cessna 172 from Gene Mallette in 1976 and had his pilot’s license in 30 days. Training, tests, the required hours—he did it all in 30 days with Red Baron Flight Service in Idaho Falls—a feat nearly impossible to attain—in his own airplane.

In 1978 Steve was walking across a street in Honolulu when Karen Ridenour, a Columbia Falls school acquaintance, was crossing the street from the other side. They passed each other and both turned around after crossing. From the other side of the street Steve yelled, “Are you from Montana?” Karen said, “Are you Steve Bennett?” They went on a date the next night, and both returned to Montana, Karen to a job with the Park Service and Steve with the aluminum plant. They were married in 1979. Their daughter Lindsey was born in 1981.

The marriage ended in divorce but still, in friendship if not love. Bennett left AAC employment, purchased the Paul Bunyan Bar and the Travel Chest travel agency, selling both businesses after a few years. In the late ‘80s, he worked for Alpine Air, owned by Mallette, flying mail between Kalispell and Billings and later, after receiving his commercial license, for other air transportation companies, even a passenger service flying out of Detroit. He was always working a plan, from trading silver and turquoise jewelry to working the stock market and trading bit coin. He worked with Ralph Sievers for years, restoring cars, one a 1965 GTO, from almost the ground up. There was always a job to do, a plan, a way to make a buck, and if times were hard, a way back into the game.

In 2004 Steve met Julie Barden. They entered a relationship which continued to the end of his life. For several years Steve had endured problems with his health resulting in the amputation of a leg. With Julie’s care and throughout it all, he remained hopeful that he would regain his strength and walk again. Julie’s children were also Steve’s children. He was their dad.

A deal with Ron Ridenour and Lindsey’s Lake Five Resort business allowed Steve the purchase of a Gulfstream Tour Master motor home he lived in for a few years. He had lost his left leg so various friends, Darrell Schenk, Ron, Wes Martin, Richard Snider and Mike Riedinger, would drive it and Steve between Julie’s home in Columbia Falls to Beaver Dam, Arizona. Steve and Julie would spend the winter like Snowbirds and return to Montana for the summer. Travis Hall and Don Thorton, Riedinger and others, kept the motorhome working, drained the tanks, and the TV on. With diminished health, he sold the motorhome and lived the last two years of his life in Julie’s home. He died there, rolled out on the porch for a morning cigarette he never lit while Julie went for his cup of coffee.

Steve is survived by his daughter Lindsey and her husband Dan Simonson, their daughters, Verona, Jules and Aenea; Steve’s companion Julie Barden and her children, Shyanne, Dakota, Madyson and Hanna; his older brother Gary, residing in Florida, Gary’s daughter Jennifer Thomas and his granddaughter Madelaine Walker. He was preceded in death by his parents.

The people Steve met throughout his life are many. He knew everybody. All were friends and valued.

No services are planned at this time. A memorial will be held at a later date.