[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]April 10, 1930 – February 24, 2020

In Father’s own words: “For a Christian to live in this world in fidelity to Jesus Christ preparing to meet Him in the next world is primary.  The more so for a Catholic priest, whether it is noted in an obituary or not. This factor should influence all that a Christian does.”

Fr. Stephen Tallman was born April 10, 1930 in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the oldest of the six children of James E. Tallman and Margaret (Shute) Tallman. He attended St. Mary’s Elementary and High School in Ponca City, graduating in 1948.  After studying Mechanical Engineering at Oklahoma State University, he entered St. John’s Seminary in San Antonio, Texas, studying for the Catholic Priesthood. Working for relatives in Montana drew him to Big Sky Country.  He  completed his studies for the Priesthood in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was ordained May 23, 1959 as a Priest for the Diocese of Helena, Montana.

From 1959 until retirement in 2000 he served in various Parishes in Western Montana as Associate or as Pastor including: Immaculate Conception Parish and St. John the Evangelist Parish in Butte, St. Peter Parish in Anaconda, Immaculate Conception Parish in Deer Lodge and Chaplain to Montana State Prison, Little Flower Parish in Browning; St. Francis Parish in Valier . The last nine years before retirement Fr. Tallman served as Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Stevensville, Montana. As long as health permitted he continued to serve on weekends in Parishes without Priests, and he offered his last Mass 6 days before his death.

He is survived by one brother, James Tallman of New Braunfels, TX,  and a sister, Mary Ellen (Tallman) Rachec, of Kerrvile, TX.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”15762″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 6 p.m. – Rosary – followed by Vigil Service – followed by sharing of memories

Father Bart Tolleson will preside; Father John Wang will preach during the Vigil

Anderson-Stevenson-Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N Montana Ave, Helena

 

Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at Noon – Funeral Mass at Cathedral of St. Helena

Bishop Vetter is Principal Celebrant; Father Bart Tolleson is homilist

Followed by Burial in the Priests’ Plot at Resurrection Cemetery

Followed by Luncheon at Cathedral’s Brondel Center[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]