Verna Steinbach

Verna Jane Steinbach, beloved mother, grandmother, horsewoman, and lifelong rancher, passed away on March 10, 2026, leaving behind a legacy rooted in family and the Montana land she loved. Verna was born on November 24, 1938-Thanksgiving Day-to Helen Gibson Brown and C. Donald Brown. Her youth on the Gibson-Brown ranch, now known as the Hoon Ranch, fostered the enduring love for horses and ranch life that defined her and nurtured deep connections with her children and grandchildren.

Verna attended South Fork Elementary School, riding on horseback to school with neighbors until she was about nine or ten years old. She later attended Helena High School, graduating in 1956. While in Helena, she boarded with the family of her dear friend Judy Allen Burggraff, an arrangement that created lifelong connections, especially with her closest friend, Susan Burggraff Melaney.

From a young age, Verna was a gifted horsewoman and competitor. She won two state championships in O-Mok-See and finished third in the nation in barrel racing. Horses were a defining part of her life, and her favorites included her high school barrel horse, Lady, as well as Pete, a dependable barrel horse known for his efficiency and heart.

Verna knew Marvin "Buz" Steinbach for many years, growing up in the same community. After Buz suffered a broken neck, Verna visited him in the hospital, and their bond grew stronger. The two married on June 8, 1957, and Verna moved to the Steinbach Ranch, where they built a life centered on family and ranching.

They raised four children: Shawn (1959), Ty (1961), Scott (1964), and Tell (1973). Ranch life meant long days in the saddle, and Verna spent countless hours riding the mountains pushing cattle. She made sure each of her children learned to ride and understand the responsibilities that came with ranch life.

Verna's passion for horses and young people shaped generations of riders. She served as a 4-H leader, taught horsemanship, and mentored many young riders in barrel racing and pole bending, often hosting several girls at a time who came to learn from her. She served the rodeo community as district secretary, state secretary, and national director of high school rodeo, and helped start the Montana Barrel Racing Association. Verna also organized ropings at Bowman's Corner for about five years and hosted jackpot events in Browning, always working to support youth and the sport she loved.

Later in life, Verna and Buz often traveled the west to watch rodeos, including the National Finals many times, the Calgary Stampede, and the Pendleton Roundup, the latter to watch her son Tell compete.

Above all, Verna loved her family with fierce devotion, and this was nowhere more apparent than in her relationship with her grandchildren. She never missed a chance to watch them compete in sports, no matter how far the drive. Each summer, her grandchildren eagerly counted down the days until they could spend weeks at a time with her on the family ranch - days filled with horses, ranching, and card games - memories they will cherish forever. Whether helping them find confidence in the saddle or hollering from the stands, she poured herself into the nextgeneration without hesitation.

Verna also had a quieter side that those closest to her knew well. She could often be found snuggled into her rocking chair beside the fireplace, lost in the pages of a romance novel. It was her peaceful escape - a tender contrast to the rugged life she lived with such grit and grace.

Verna will be remembered for her strength, kindness, and deep love for horses, ranching, and family. Her life was one lived in service to others, in the saddle, and on the land she called home.

She leaves behind her husband, Marvin 'Buz' Steinbach; son, Shawn (Karmon); grandchildren, Trevor (Ashley), Miles (Becky), Skylar (Kody), Sydne (Kyle), Allie (Jordan), and Avery;

great-grandchildren, Hadley, Vivianne, Ryggs, Marlow, Rahlee, Tein, and Evelyn; and the many young riders whose lives she touched through her patience, wisdom, and encouragement.

A private burial will be held at a later date.

Condolence to the family maybe shared to www.frontierfuneralhome.com