Clifford Patrick Marion, a.k.a. “Big Poppa Cliff,” died of natural causes on Dec. 30, 2024, in Helena, 64 years young. He was known as the short man telling tall tales to get a rise out of anyone gullible enough to listen. He had a sense of humor about him, always making everyone laugh with the biggest grins on their faces.
Clifford was born May 4, 1960, in Dunseith, ND to Donald and Delsy Marion,the fourth of five children and an enrolled member of the Band of Chippewa Indians on the Turtle Mountain Reservation. He grew up in Toston, Mt., on the Cazier’s ranch and went to school in Crow Creek until the 8th grade. After school, he worked on the Cazier ranch with his father
Clifford married his first wife, Virginia Graham on July 17, 1982, in Townsend. They had four children: Delsey, born in 1986; Ashlie, in 1988; Brandon, in 1990; and Krista, in 1992. During their younger years, he worked at the potato farm, the post and pole, and many other odd jobs in Townsend.
