- Date Of Birth: March 15, 1945
- Date Of Death: July 30, 2012
- State: Montana
Valley Creek – Benjamin ” Ben” Fyant was born on March 15,1945 at Valley Creek, MT to Louie & Adeline (Stevens) Fyant. He passed away in Missoula on July 30th.
Ben grew up in the Valley Creek area and as a child one of his favorite things was to spend the summers with his older brother Eddie Vanderburg at the lookout near Hot Springs. Ben graduated from Arlee High School in 1964 and in September of 1965 he joined the Army serving his basic training at Fort Ord, CA. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Sharpshooter (Rifle M14), Sharpshooter (Rifle M16), and Vietnam Service Medal. Ben was honorably discharged in August of 1967.
A member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, following his military service he returned to home to work for BIA until 1990 then Tribal Lands where he worked as a soil conservation Tech started 1977-2004 until his health forced him to retire.
Ben was a good man, a good brother, and a good friend. He had a gentle spirit (mostly) and spoke well of others. He loved all his family. The light of his life was his daughter Alexandria. He married his longtime companion Betty Steele in July 2008. They later separated but remained best friends. He was proud to be father and helped Betty raise Francis and Roland Brown.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, his parents, sisters Pee Wee Mason & Rose Sheridan; brothers Eddie Vanderburg, Everett, Frank & Jimmy Fyant, Yaya Adele Vanderburg and numerous others.
Survivors include Betty Steele Fyant and her boys Francis & Roland; sisters Frances Vandervyrg, Virginia Butler & Marie Fyant, brothers Art (Gordon (Gale) and Bobby Fyant and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
A wake began Tuesday at the Arlee Community Center with the Closing Ceremony starting at 10am Wednesday in the Center.
