Steven Keith Haight

Steven Keith Haight, 59, of Bozeman, MT, passed away peacefully at his home on the mountain surrounded by his family on Saturday September 3rd, after battling a long illness.

Steve was Born May 28, 1963, in Cedar Rapids, IA, to Jerry Haight and Bette Jo Fell.  He graduated from Solon High School and went on to attend Kirkwood College, where he received his Dental Lab Technician Associate Degree.

He grew up in Cedar Rapids, IA, with his two siblings, Deb and Mark. Being the middle child, Steve’s first years were often spent with his big sister Deb playing dress up and saying, “Come on Stephanie, let’s go on vacation”.  When Mark came around and they grew a little bigger, they spent the days playing by the creek building their underground fort or looking for night crawlers with their father. Steve spent his summers on Grandpa Haight’s farm where his love of tractors started. When he wasn’t on the farm, he was sure to be having a great time with his family water skiing at their cabin on Lake Delhi. He was an avid water skier, holding a record for barefoot skiing.

Steve moved to Spencer, IA, and started his first dental lab, which he developed into a successful 35-year career. On a routine trip to the dentist’s office, he fell in love with the woman in the dental chair. On July 11, 1991, he married Pamela Kreul and became the father to her three children. He didn’t miss a beat when it came to being a father.  He was fun, loving, and had the best imagination. He gave his children an amazing childhood.  In 1995, Steve and Pam moved to Bozeman, MT, where they lived a simple life on the mountain-top, raising their children. He passed his love of mountains on to his nine grandchildren. He loved his grandchildren more than anything in his life. They often spent their days snowmobiling around the loop to visit his GRV family and going on adventures to chico hot springs.

Steve can best be described as an honest, hard-working mountain man that loved being a prankster, whether it be joking with his five nephews and beautiful niece or scaring everyone with his bear growl. He had an abnormal amount of tissues with him at all times, asking all the kids to “hold that” for him as he grinned deviously. He often gave out nick names to those he loved, such as the McLouds, Cindy and Noodles. Every mountain man must have his pack of dogs, and Steve succeeded in having many throughout his life. They rarely left his side and were sure to get all his bacon grease.

Steve was a man of many skills that he happily passed along to others. His love for water skiing was passed along through ski clubs and teaching his son the many tricks they drove by their neighbor’s dock showing off. Once he moved to Montana and the lakes were gone, snowmobiling became his new love. It didn’t matter with who or where he was, he wanted to ride. He would take the whole family on rides, patiently spending the day getting everyone unstuck. He particularly enjoyed his time alone on his old, beat up, “antique” tractors, scouring the property for firewood. He could do this all day, which surely led to him saying “huh” every time someone spoke to him. He spent many days floating the rivers of Montana with his family and friends.

He is proceeded in death by his father Jerry Haight, Grandma & Grandpa Haight, Grandma & Grandpa Fell, and grandson Landon Haight, as well as all of his beloved dogs.

He is survived by his wife Pam Haight; mother Sheri Haight; children Brooks Haight (Christian) and daughters Harlow & Monrow; Jennifer Kintz (Bob) and children Charleigh, Eli, Sawyer; Brittanie Solberg (Stephan) and daughters Bella, Stevie and Romie; brother Mark Haight (Jeanie) and sons Brian, Trevor, Christian and Denver; Debra Apodaca (Richard) and children Andrew (Kinsey) & Alexa (Alex); biological mother Bette Jo Wendell (Tom) and his GRV family.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date for family and close friends.

As Steve would say, “Lock and load, we’re going crazy”.