Tanya Marie Finley

Evaro, MT

Tanya Marie Finley, age 64, of Evaro, MT passed away peacefully at her home in Evaro on June 10, 2026. Tanya was born on June 7, 1962 in St. Ignatius, MT to Rose Gardipe and Peter Finley.

Tanya graduated from Two Eagle River School in 1984 and was very proud of her achievement. She also attended Frenchtown school and Arlee high school, attended Salish Kootenai College for nursing and got her certification.

She worked for Joe’s Smoke Ring in Evaro for a good part of her life then started working for Tribal Maintenance in Pablo. She enjoyed cooking for family, beading, the outdoors, picking huckleberries and fishing. She always fixed things herself, she had her own tools, we called her Ms. MacGyver, She was always on her phone, ordering things she thought were the coolest things she ever did see but really didn’t need. She loved going to the Arlee Powwow and looking at all the stands and on the 4th of July to go see the fireworks in Missoula. She was a happy, outgoing person who would help anyone who asked her for it. She had the best stories to tell and would always play a guessing game of who she saw, shed  give you 3 guesses. Her loves of her life were Keanu Reeves and Johnny Depp, if only they could have met her or her them. She also loved her dogs who she lost when her house burned down last year. She was happy to move home to her tiny house before her death.

She is survived by her son Ricky Baptiste of Evaro, daughter Sarrena Ammen of Evaro, granddaughter Royleena Ammen, grandsons Hammer Ammen, GaDuke Ammen of Evaro, Carson Baptiste of Missoula, Dad, Scotty Gardipe of Evaro, brothers, Alex “Rick” Finley of Evaro, Amiel “Jon” Gardipe of Evaro, Pete Finley of Washington, sisters, Trina Finley of Evaro, JonErika Lamooseo of Moiese, sisters from Scotty’s first marriage brothers Charlie Gardipe, Mike Gardipe of Pablo, sisters Geraldine Gardipe of Pablo, Selena Gardipe of Ronan and Terry Gardipe of Pablo.

She was proceeded in death by her mother Rose Gardipe of Evaro, Father Peter Finley, her sons D.J. Finley, Sky Finley who was a twin and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, sisters, brothers, extended family members and close friends, who she deeply loved.

Services will start Thursday evening June 11, 2026 at the Arlee Community Center. Rosary will be Friday, June 12, 2026 at 8 PM at the Arlee Community Center. With Funeral closing Saturday, June 13, 2026 followed by burial at Jocko Cemetery next to her mom, sons, and family.

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