Staci Jo French

After a courageous battle with cancer, Staci Jo French, 55, passed away peacefully in her own home, surrounded by family on October 16th, 2025.

Staci was born on September 27th, 1970 to Lonnie and Cheri Badger in Havre, Montana and moved to Malta. She graduated from Malta High School in 1988, and then attended Dickinson State University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business in 1992. She then worked briefly at Valley Bank in Glasgow before realizing that an inside job was not her style. She moved back to Malta to work on the Diamond Willow Ranch with her adopted father Willie Doll, and applied for the head coach position for the high school volleyball team.

On May 24, 1997, she married Mark French of Malta. Staci continued to be involved with volleyball as an assistant coach and referee until her son Colt was born in 2002. A daughter, Brylee, completed their family in 2004. Mark and Staci later divorced.

Staci was an active partner in the Diamond Willow Ranch from the time she moved back to Malta. Even though this role was very busy, she didn’t bother to send her children to a day care, instead they tagged along with her through everyday tasks on the ranch with Willie and the crew. As her children grew old enough to go to school and become involved with extracurriculars, she kept herself occupied with life on the ranch and on the road chasing her kids’ activities.

Staci was a caretaker at heart. She took care of critters of all kinds, from baby deer, bum calves, horses, many cows, cats, dogs, to kids. And when her children left the roost, she adopted chickens to take their place. Staci poured her heart into whatever task or project she put her mind to, and it was evident when she finished them. She had a knack for decorating and gravitated toward things with a little bit of rust on them and found unique ways to put them on display; oftentimes in ways no one had ever thought of before. Staci was very articulate with putting words on paper in a way that touched and entertained many. She also enjoyed hunting, and usually put the boys to shame by being the best marksman in the group, and also the only girl. Staci was selfless, loving, hardworking, tough as nails, honest (sometimes brutally), generous, thoughtful, and had a clever sense of humor with a hint of sarcasm. These are only a few words to describe this amazing woman who managed to make the most of the short time she was here with us.

She is survived by her two children, Colt and Brylee French, parents, Willie and Cheri Doll, and siblings Serena, Levi (Sheila), and Billi Jo Doll, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is preceded in death by Lonnie Badger and maternal grandparents, Gale and Donna Billingsley.

A rosary for Staci will be held on Thursday, October 23rd at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 6:30 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Friday, October 24th at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Sletten Cancer Center in Havre, MT or a charity of choice.

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