Jeffrey Stein Sifers was born in Sidney, Montana, on June 2, 1957, to Sam and Rosella (Gunderson) Sifers. He is one of six children. Jeff’s young life was filled with challenges. He was born with a cleft pallet which required many doctor appointments and painful surgeries. Jeff showed strength and perseverance through it all. It was clear from a young age just how strong Jeff was, not only physically, but in heart and spirit as well.

As a young boy in Sidney, Jeff was an active member of the Lonetree Creek 4H Club. He also enjoyed going to the Saddle Club. He had a black Welch pony named Tony that he rode all over the countryside. He very much loved to hunt and fish and could always be found playing with all the other neighborhood kids.

Jeff and Shirley Mowery married in 1981, and Jeff became a stepdad to Shirley’s children, Derek and Melani. Even though they parted paths, their close friendship lasted throughout his life and Jeff has always been a much-loved dad to Derek and Melani. Jeff made childhood fun and took the kids on many adventures. When Derek graduated high school, he moved to Las Vegas to live with Jeff.

Jeff worked many jobs throughout his life. As a young man in Montana, he drove trucks and his call sign was “Big Iron” which was spot on for all who knew him! He also worked the oil rigs for many years. He was proud to be a “roughneck.” In 1988, Jeff left Sidney and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada for work opportunities. He worked many years at the Nevada Test Site where he held some of the highest homeland security clearances anyone could obtain. He could have flashed his badge and walked right into the White House! Later, he worked for Nevada Ready Mix as a heavy equipment operator and his plant was known as having the highest productivity of any other plant in town. Their success was very much due to Jeff’s abilities. Jeff was a hard worker and all who worked with him were glad to have him as part of their crew.

Jeff loved to travel. In his younger days, he spent time in Brazil with his mom, sister Janet, and brother-in-law, Melvin, who he was working for at the time. He took many trips over the years to fish, hunt, and visit family. He had the amazing experience of a Tiger Cruise aboard the USS Nimitz with his nephew, Waylon. Jeff and Ryan Painter enjoyed a month-long trip to Alaska. His bucket list trip was in 2018 to see his family in Bulgaria. He was so excited and proud to meet his relatives there. It was the experience of a lifetime for him. He had very much looked forward to traveling more.

Jeff enjoyed many things in life including Westerns and a good game of cribbage. He liked to spend a lot of time outdoors camping, fishing and hunting. Jeff attended many races and car shows with his good friend, Scott Ramus. He was an avid birdwatcher and loved to see the various birds that visited his feeders in the back yard. Jeff was a big fan of the Vegas Golden Knights. He was overjoyed to see them win the Stanley Cup!

Most of all, Jeff loved his family and friends. He loved wholeheartedly. Nothing made him happier than visiting with those he loved. He was a great storyteller and a good listener at the same time. If you knew Jeff, you knew you were important to him. Jeff lived honestly and with integrity and was always the first to help a person in need. He was a protective and loving Grampa and enjoyed every minute of his time with his grandkids. He took all the boys on many hunting and fishing trips. He taught them how to drive and how to fix cars. He would fix the girls’ hair or pull a loose tooth. He was happy to go fishing with the girls or read books and do a puzzle. Jeff was very close to his siblings and his nieces and nephews also. He remembered fondly all the times he spent with them when they were young in Montana and all the visits they had as adults too. He loved having company and showing them around Las Vegas. He knew every great niece and nephew and watched for new pictures on his Skylight frame or phone. Jeff loved his family and was so proud of all of them. He loved and considered his lifelong friends as his family too. He was truly blessed with the best of friends.

Jeff passed away at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 13, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer. He never measured his cancer progression. He just kept making plans for the future.

Jeff is survived by his son, Derek (Tami) Carpenter of Las Vegas and daughter, Melani (Brent) Kline of Scranton, ND; his grandchildren Jordan Allen, Tyler, Colton, and Dylan Carpenter, and Justin, Emily, Alyvia, and Lindsey Kline; his sisters Carol (Bill) Struckman of Savage and Janet (Melvin) Croxton of Bowie, TX; brother Pete (Joyce) Sifers of Sidney; brothers-in-law Mike Anderson and Jerry Price; nieces and nephews Tony Jensen, Randy Jensen, Holly Moore, Billy Struckman, Laura Winters, Dale Price, David Price, Jodi Findlay, Chris Price, Waylon Olsen, Carol Olsen, Michelle Croxton, Stephanie Sifers, Jennifer Morken, Sara Sifers, Michael Sifers, Misty Anderson, Jeffrey Anderson, and Davi Jo Painter; and many great-nieces and great nephews and so many dear friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents Sam and Rosella Sifers; his sisters Kay Price and Calena Anderson; brothers-in-law Pat Moore, Melvin Croxton, and Bill Struckman; and his best friend, David Painter.

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