William Daniel Stevens III

The final whistle blew August 11, 2023, in Cayuse, Oregon for wéeptes sikalálayn, Soaring Eagle, surrounded by his wife and loved ones.
Through the span of at least four decades and hundreds of Lapwai youth, Coach taught his kids to play hard and never give up until the whistle was blown.

In life, William D. Stevens III, ‘Dan’ lived, loved and worked with the same sentiments. The final whistle sounded for Coach Buck, Uncle Buck, Buckcheetah and Buckskin on Friday night at 8:45 p.m. he was 65 years old.

William was born on July 16, 1958, in Lewiston, Idaho to William Nicodemus Stevens Jr. and Geneva Madsen Stevens of Arrow Junction. The youngest child and only son, he joined sisters Sharen, Lucinda, Brenda and Wilhemina at the family ranch. Dan, his sister Brenda, and Father farmed and raised cattle on the land as heirs to LowTsarWat and her daughter, He-yume-te-tah-lilp.

From his father’s side William comes from the Nicodemus, Andrews, Raboin and Ramsey Nez Perce families and from his mother’s side, William comes from the Mary Threedresses, Ashley, Finley, Kususti and Eneas families of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Dan attended Lapwai schools and graduated from Lapwai High School in 1977. He traveled all over Indian Country, attending celebrations and pow wows with his parents. Dan was a fast and fancy dancer. He was active in Indian Club, performing at different schools to showcase his moves with his dance troupe. He remained committed to helping his father farm and ranch at Arrow until his dad retired in 1994. Dan loved to travel to Montana and spend time with his family and play baseball, basketball and softball. As a child he loved going to the mountains to camp, hunt, gather and fish with other families including the Holts and Smiths. As a Lapwai Wildcat, Dan learned early on how to get the animals fed and to practice on time while living out in the country.

Dan was involved in all athletics, culture and community activities throughout his high school years. He excelled in football, basketball and baseball. Following graduation from Lapwai High School he played football at Yakima Valley Community College on a scholarship and continued living the dream on the tourney trail playing baseball with the Strokin’Ts.

Dan’s dedication and work ethic was generously shared with the Nez Perce Tribe and his community. This included coaching Lapwai High School Football and Basketball. Since the late 1970s hundreds of boys and girls played for Coach Buckskin in Baby Wildcats. Dan was never one to turn kids away and suited up munchkins through junior high players fielding three football teams. For two generations countless memories, nicknames, motivational and renowned expressions are only a few takeaways from Coach Buckskin. Dan also took baseball and basketball teams all over the northwest on his own time and resources.

Despite not having children of his own, he had hundreds of kids and was a father figure to many. Coach could share a story about every single player he ever had.

Dan began his employment with the Nez Perce Tribe at the PiNeeWaus Community Center in 1978. He also drove bus for the Senior Citizens program and Lapwai School District. For seventeen years Dan was a youth counselor for the Drug and Alcohol Program. Dan created an environment, after school and summer breaks, for kids of all ages to play games, hang out and eat.
From there, he helped build the water tower and locker rooms at the HS football field.

Since its inception in 1996 Dan began working at the Clearwater River Casino and retired in 2019, reluctantly. Dan started in drop crew, moved to soft count and retired as a security guard.

Dan was a faithful supporter and biggest fan of his nieces and nephews in all aspects of life. His sisters, their children and grandchildren meant the world to him. He was a devoted and unconditional loving son, brother and uncle.

Dan was reunited with and married Vivian Sohappy of Cayuse, Oregon. Their vows were exchanged on December 11, 2022, at Tutuilla Presbyterian Church in Pendleton, Oregon. He moved to Pendleton in the early fall of 2022 to be with his love, Vivian. Dan was welcomed to the family home by his brother-in-law and five grandchildren whom he loved as his own.

Dan and Vivian shared their days with rides in the country, family dinners, the grandchildren’s games, events and in prayer. Dan was a loving and devoted husband and grandfather. He loved his people and community with all his heart but his unwavering love for Vivian lead him to live in Cayuse until his last breath.

Dan was preceded in death by his paternal great-grandparents, Kuiz Kelemet and Lucy Is-Eyeye Kuskus, Philip and Mildred Raboin Andrews, maternal great grandparents, Frank and Cecelia Kususti Ashley, maternal grandparents, Charles and Agnes Ashley-Madsen, paternal grandparents William Nicodemus Stevens Sr. and Mildred Andrews; mother and father, Geneva and Bill; sisters, Sharen and Brenda Stevens and nephew Chip. Dan will also reunite with former players and friends whom he loved dearly.

Dan is survived by his wife Vivian, sisters Lucinda Perez and Wilhemina Stevens, beloved grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces, and great-great nephews.

A true blue Lapwai legend such as William D. Stevens III is the least, a tough act to follow but the warriors he assisted in creating both on and off the field will carry on his legacy.

A memorial service will be held Monday, August 14, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., at the Pineewaus Community Center in Lapwai, Idaho.
A funeral service will commence on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Pineewaus Community Center in Lapwai, ID. Burial and his final resting place will be at Stevens Family Cemetery at Arrow Junction. A dinner will follow at the PiNeeWaus.
Vassar Rawls Funeral Home of Lewiston, Idaho has been entrusted to care for the family.

Pamela Antoinette Steffy

Our loving Mom and Wife left us on Monday, August 7, and is welcomed in Heaven by our Grandma. Pam had fell ill in the last several months and suffered cardiac arrest on Friday and was not able to recover.

Pam was born on September 30, 1974 in Orofino, ID to Muriel Slickpoo and Phillip Mendacino. Pam was an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe. Pam was also very proud to be half Northern Cheyenne (Tsis tsis’tas) and she visited her Red Woman extended family every summer during her childhood years in Lame Deer, MT and maintained contact with them in her adult years. Pam was also affiliated with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (Cayuse band).

Pam attended elementary schools at both Clearwater Valley in Kooskia & in Kamiah. During her childhood years, Pam had fond memories of going to the Tribal youth summer school program with her friends and cousins. She also participated in the summer youth activities, field trips, culture classes, softball, basketball, and soccer at the Wa-A’Yas Community Center in Kamiah. Pam also loved traveling to powwows, ceremonies, and memorials throughout the Northwest with her Emma and Umpa. When she was in junior high, her Mom moved the family to Ashland, MT to live with their Northern Cheyenne relatives.

Pam attended St. Labre Indian Catholic school there and loved it as it was an all-Indian school. Pam met more relatives, made several friends, and proudly reported she was the first one to wear Bermuda shorts there and it started the style for all the kids. The family eventually moved back to Kamiah and Pam attended Kamiah high school. Pam participated in volleyball and basketball and belonged to the high school Indian club. Pam enjoyed traveling with the Indian club to youth conferences throughout the Northwest.

Pam loved to play volleyball and was known for her deadly serves and killer spikes. Pam played volleyball at Kamiah high school & was named to the A-3 school district All-Star league team in 1991. Pam continued to play volleyball recreationally at the Waayas and played every chance she got. Pam and her (late) Uncle Harry Slickpoo, Sr “Waldo” obtained their GED’s through the Tribe’s Adult Learning Center and both were proud to participate in the graduation ceremony held at LCSC.

In the early 2000’s, Pam, her Uncle Waldo & Aunt Etta Axtell were the very first enrolled college students at the newly-established Kamiah site of the Northwest Indian College (NWIC). Pam went on to obtain an Associate of Arts, Direct Transfer degree, from NWIC in 2014. She proudly attended the graduation ceremony with her family in Bellingham, WA. Pam had plans to complete her Bachelor’s degree from NWIC and was just a year shy of credits to graduate. Pam wanted to be an advocate for families working with the social services & judicial systems, and issues affecting the Tribal community. Like her Grandpa and Mom, Pam was outspoken and was not afraid to call Tribal council, ask questions, and demand answers.

Pam worked various construction jobs and was also employed by the Nez Perce Tribe for several years as a secretary. Pam was an excellent cook and was known to feed the neighborhood children, often inviting (or making) them in to her home to eat. Pam was known for her delicious huge bowls of potato soup, fry bread, and tuna casserole. In 2012, she and her cousin Judge Slickpoo were the head cooks for the 1st Annual Rapid River Salmon camp for youth. This was the first of many contract cooking jobs for her. Pam and her husband, Dave, often put up Indian taco stands at various community events. When she didn’t have a stand up, people were looking for her asking why she wasn’t making fry bread.

On July 27, 1991, Pam met David Steffy at Kooskia Days when she asked him to buy beer for her and her friends. He agreed but he also invited himself along and hopped in the car with Pam and her friends, to their surprise. That was the beginning of their 32-year relationship and eventual marriage. She always reminded everyone of how they met and wanted to celebrate their anniversary during Kooskia Days. Pam and Dave were married on March 23, 1996 at the Second Presbyterian Church in Kamiah with the (late) Reverand Walter Moffett, Sr. Officiating. Pam was also eight months pregnant with their first child, Kaleigh. Pam and Dave always lived together in the Kamiah area and had four more children.

Pam loved being a stay-at-home Mom and often said “I don’t have to work..that’s what my husband is for!” Pam loved her children fiercely and was a strong advocate for them in everything they did. Pam was very proud of her children and often spoke of their accomplishments every chance she could. Pam liked to tell her kids “manners are for free, you just got to use them.” Pam also was the first to congratulate her nieces and nephews on their athletic or academic events and awards.

Pam liked to cook, sew, hunt, fish, swim, scroll social media, and gamble at the casino. She was part of the original “dollar crew” at Itseyeye casino. Pam was also known to welcome people in to her home with open arms, making sure they had food to eat and a place to sleep. She was a second Mom to her younger sister and brother, and later some cousins, nieces, and nephews. Pam had many nicknames growing up that she answered too. And some she didn’t care to answer. Some of her nicknames were Zaney Zig, Pamela Jane, Jane, Quick, Rah Rah, and Hurricane Jane. Pam loathed a couple of the nicknames given to her by her late Uncle Owen.

Pam was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Allen P. Slickpoo, Sr. “Umpa” & Ernestine (Hayes) Slickpoo “Emma”; paternal grandfather, “Jack Rabbit” Red Woman; her brother, Cheyenne Red Woman; niece, Simone Miller; nephew, Bryan “Lil Tom” Kenoras, and sadly, just two months ago, her Mom, Muriel Slickpoo.

Pam is survived by her husband David Sr., sons David Jr. (Daveo), Lance, daughters Emali and Cessali, all at the family home in Kamiah; oldest daughter, Kaleigh, of Lewiston; sister Lucy Medicine Elk of Coulee Dam, WA; and brother Max (Pino) Weasel Boy of Kamiah. Pam also leaves behind many Aunts, Uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, Slickpoo family, a beloved great-niece and great-nephew, and all those who knew and loved her.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, August 10 at 7pm at the Waayas Community Center in Kamiah. Funeral services led by Volkhard Graf will be held on Friday, August 11 at 10am, also at the Waayas. Interment will occur at the Nez Perce Tribal cemetary on No Kid Lane immediately following the funeral services. A dinner will be served at the Waayas after burial. Judy Oatman is serving as head cook.

Audry Jean Types

Audrey Jean Types, 85, a member of the Nez Perce Tribe, died Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, at Wedgewood Terrace in Lewiston where she had been a resident for six years. She had lived her entire life in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley.

She was born April 11, 1938, to Pete Carl Types Sr., and Jane Mary (McAtty) Types. She was a graduate of Lapwai High School in 1958. She was employed at Opportunities Unlimited Inc., for 20-plus years where she received numerous accolades for outstanding service. “Audie” as she was fondly referred to, will be dearly missed for her storytelling, kind spirit and love for life. She was happiest spending time with family, participating in Christian fellowship and sharing her big heart for animals. Her hobbies included walking everywhere, golfing, bowling, traveling adventures and various collectibles.

She is the last survivor of 12 children and is preceded in death by parents Pete Types Sr., (1947), Jane Mary Types (1973); siblings Josephine Types (1919), Wilbur Types (1927), Geneva Types (1934), Angie Types (1936), Anita Types (1939), Oliver Types (1947), Pete Types Jr., (1951), Marcella Types (1971), Celestine Chalcraft (1974), Naomi Moctelme (2004), Virgil Types (2018); niece Marie Cash (1996); great-nephews David Cash (2010), Ronald Wheeler (2005); great-niece Beatrice Wheeler (2020).

Survivors include niece Carol Wheeler; great-nieces Cindy Cash, Rhonda Wilton, Sheila Hewett, Kelly Hillman, Mary Wheeler; and several generations of nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 14, at the Lapwai Methodist Church with Heath Hewett officiating. Burial will be at Arrow Cemetery. Dinner reception to follow at the Lapwai Methodist Church.

Malcom’s Brower-Wann Funeral Home of Lewiston is in charge of arrangements.

Bobbi Ann Hudson-Villalobos

Our beloved Bobbi Ann Hudson-Villalobos, 63, continued her journey with the Lord and Savior on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at her home in Lewiston surrounded by family. Bobbi was born Feb. 17, 1960, to Lewis George Hudson and Carmelita Corbett Hudson Kellar and is the second eldest of five children. Bobbi attended schools in Orofino, Kamiah and Pierce, as well as Montana and Oregon. She worked as an outreach social worker, realtor, business owner and homemaker.

Bobbi has three children, Becky Jo Lozon, Cameron Lozon and Juan Hudson. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her grandchildren, Austin Reynolds, Tierra Lozon, Neveah Hudson, Corbin Lewis Hudson, Zaiden Humphrey, Lisette Garcia, Mercedes Villalobos, Diamond Villalobos, as well as the many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and friends whom she loved dearly. She enjoyed art projects with her grandchildren, taking nature walks and teaching them the beauty of God’s creation, especially her favorite wildflowers, sunflowers, buttercups and columbine.
Bobbi showed her fearless and free personality from a young age when she rode wild horses and later in life with husband Manuel, riding their Harley-Davidson. She especially loved the annual Toys for Tots Run with Manuel and the Combat Vets Motor Association Chapter 13-3. Manuel was the love of her life and they were married for 23 years.

She also had a love of entertaining and cooking, providing many signature and wonderfully extravagant dishes, especially at Christmas. All were welcomed at Bobbi’s table with a kind smile and a tenderness that will be greatly missed.

Bobbi was preceded in death by her husband, Manuel; parents, Lewis and Carmelita; paternal grandparents, Harry and Beatrice Hudson; maternal grandparents, Arnold Corbett and Clara Broncheau Finely; and Bobbi’s aunt Bernice Hulett.

She is survived by her children; grandchildren; sister Pam White Eagle (Larry); brother Harold Hudson (Lauri); sister Terri Hudson; sister Dianne Singer; brother Scott Kellar (Brandy); and many nieces and nephews. We know Bobbi Ann loved us all unconditionally, we have been forever changed by her passing.

A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Presbyterian Church in Ahsahka. A dinner will follow at the Teeweepuu Community Center in Orofino.

Marvin Ralph Boyd

We lost our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Marvin Ralph Boyd Thursday, July 13, 2023, after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

He was born Dec. 5, 1952, in Bremerton, Wash. His parents were Ralph Boyd and Blanche (Cheuvront) Boyd. After spending his early years on a ranch near Lenore, the family moved to Clarkston in 1966. After graduation, he worked many construction jobs before finding his niche in plumbing. Mostly working for and with the Nez Perce Tribe, he made many friends and people happy with his whenever, whatever is needed, we’ll get it done attitude.

He married his long-time sweetheart (Marjorie) Deneice Lombard April 21, 2018. She preceded him in death Oct. 17, 2021. His parents have also passed.

He is survived by his daughters Taffey Smith (Mike Blewett), Lisha Boyd (Shawn Kammers), Jolean Boyd, Cari Junes (Josh Perrigo), Cori Sayers; brother Merrill Boyd (Susan); sister Marjorie Boyd; nieces Chantelle Boyd and Danielle Boyd; 14 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren and many “brothers” and friends.

A dressing ceremony was performed July 16. The family would like to thank Darrell Reuben and the other tribal members for the heartfelt ceremony and the refreshments provided. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held at noon, Saturday, Aug. 12, at Beachview Park in Clarkston.

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All archives before December 2022 can be found in the Nimiipuu Tribal Tribune Archives HERE.