Steven Brian ‘Froggy’ Sienknecht, 71

Steven Sienknecht, a love to us all, lost his brave battle with Burkitt Lymphoma on April 15, 2021.

Born in Spokane to Phyllis and Brian, he and sister Barbara attended several schools before moving to California. Being such a bright student, he skipped second grade and went to third where he was the youngest and smallest. He had to rely on his quick wit in order to thrive. He kept us laughing over the years with his reminiscences and “one liners.”

Steve attended Millikan High School in Long Beach, California, where he played water polo and trumpet in the Drum and Bugle Corps. He spent summers as a kid at grandmother’s cabin in West Glacier. He had many adventures with cousins Bruce and Michael. When he was older, he worked summers on the Sienknecht family farm in Oakesdale, Washington.

After attending the University of Colorado, he traveled to Europe and Southern Asia, and he shared many fond memories of his travels. He then lived with Barbara and Charlie in New York carrying stocks and bonds in a briefcase on the subway from bank to bank. He joked that he was “the first internet.”

When he moved to Montana, he took up the bass guitar, which began his lifelong career as a singer and musician. He played in local rock bands and on the road for nearly 50 years. While touring, he met and married Carol, and together they raised children Travis (wife Amber), and Michelle (husband Jeremy and children Evie and Fisher).

He toured in a band with Barbara and Charlie (daughter Samantha, husband David) called Redeye, and one with Mike and George called Solar Bozo. There were lots of other bands and friends along the way. He played at the Dry Bean Saloon in the ‘80s, and had a house gig for nearly 15 years at the Great Northern Bar with The Fanatics. There, Bruce Springsteen sat in with the band one epic evening. Steve and Amanda met at the Great Northern Bar and later married. He helped raise her two children, Weston and Neila. As a little boy, Weston said, “Everybody loves Steve. Even people who don’t know Steve, love Steve.”

After a house gig at the Blue Moon, he drove a school bus for School District 5 and played in a band with Gary, Dick and Sid called Southern Comfort.

Steve was a rock star in every sense of the word. He loved bus driving, and never missed a day. He always said, “The bus driver is the first person kids see going to school, and the last person they see before going home.” His favorite route was driving the “Dream Team” to Big Mountain to train for the Winter Special Olympics.

Here's to another life well-lived, and another loved one gone too soon. A celebration of life will be at the South Expo Fairgrounds Building on June 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. A music jamboree will be at the Great Northern Bar in Whitefish, Aug. 8, at 4 p.m. Musicians can call the Northern if they would like to play on Aug. 8.

The world will never be the same without him. As he fought the horrible cancer, he never complained or became angry. He taught us how to battle a disease with grace, love, hope and kindness. We love you and miss you, Steve.