Stephen Reed Schulze, 74

Steve “Hammer” Schulze, Retired Army Major, passed away of natural causes at his home in Kalispell on Feb. 25, 2021.

Stephen was born to Henry Schulze and Leona Williams Sept. 25, 1946, in Safford, Arizona. They later moved to Farmington, New Mexico, where Steve and his sister Shawna grew up.

He graduated high school and entered Arizona State University, eventually joining the United States Army in 1967, and graduated Officer Candidate School. He served in Vietnam, and was an expert sharpshooter. Later he was stationed in Great Falls where he delivered war death notices to family members of fallen servicemen in the Vietnam War; a job that Steve took on with respect and compassion as he carried out those difficult duties.

Steve met Mary Virginia Hoven in Great Falls and they were married in 1970. Together they had two daughters, Shawna and Kristin. Steve graduated from the University of Montana in 1973 with a degree in accounting, then passed the difficult CPA exam and opened Stephen Schulze CPA in Kalispell which he operated until his death. Steve had many clients who also became lifelong friends.

He was a true Griz fan and attended many games. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying backpacking, fishing, rafting and four- wheeling. Steve was proud to be a Flathead Valley dart champion in 1980. He was a lifetime golfer and member at Buffalo Hill since 1986. He played the Monday Pro Am circuit for many years and was low amateur at the Larchmont Pro Am shooting a 2 under par 70. Steve was always known to seek out and obtain the latest and best equipment or gear for whatever activity he was participating in. When Steve started tying flies on Wednesday evenings, he would invite fishing buddies over to participate. This eventually gave way to Wednesday evenings at “Steve’s Bar and Grill,” which he faithfully entertained friends right up to the evening before he passed.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary, and best friend Mike “Jorgi” Jorgenson.

Steve is survived by his sister Shawna, daughter Kristin, son-in-law Cobey Foster, grandchildren, Savannah (Henry Fiestner) and Paige, great-grandchildren Benjamin, Lincoln and Vincent, and daughter Shawna and grandchildren Quinn and Gabrielle.

A celebration of Steve will be held at Buffalo Hill Golf Club on July 7 from 1 to 4 p.m.

So long Dad, good buddy and mentor, we hope you and Jorgi are bantering in a drift boat on a beautiful Montana trout stream.