Steven Lynn Dodge “Peteetah”

Steven Lynn Dodge “Peteetah,” age 70, passed away on August 16, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family after a courageous battle with cancer.
Steve was born on February 17, 1956, to Patricia Huff of Oneida, adopted and raised by the late Richard (Snuff) and Paula Dodge of Keshena. Steve’s unique demeanor and wealth of knowledge gave him a presence that filled the room as he encompassed an energy that was fun, witty, charming, and compassionate, with an ability to speak with intellect that left a lasting impact on all.
The majority of his childhood was spent on the Menominee Reservation with his sisters Carolee “Missy” and Tracy. Growing up Steve enjoyed swimming, fishing, skiing, hunting, camping. running track, playing basketball, and baseball. Steve graduated from Escanaba High School in 1973 at the age of 16 and attended a Leadership School. He planned to attend UWGB for pre-law but his life direction took a turn when he became involved in the Novitiate Takeover to restore sovereign rights to the Menominee Nation during Termination.
While attending an American Indian Movement (AIM) Conference in 1975 he became inspired by two elderly women from Wounded Knee who asked “Where are our warriors, where are our men to protect us?” This left a lifelong impact that changed his focus and led Steve to a path of activism, environmentalism, and traditional knowledge that helped him create foundational work for Tribes across Turtle Island.
His activist time and professional career included, the Novitiate Takeover, Longest Walk to DC, No Nukes Mission in Germany with the Green Peace Party, Human Rights for Indigenous Peoples in Panama, and protesting the extraction of minerals and gas from Indigenous lands across Turtle Island including the dissolving of the Exxon Mine in the Mole Lake area. In addition, he worked for the Ho-Chunk Nation on land claims and as Tribal Planner for Menominee Indian Tribe of WI where he helped fight against the placement of a high level nuclear waste repository.
With his “partner”/best friend Holly YoungBear-Tibbits, Steve helped establish WISTEC (the Wisconsin Tribal Environmental Council) and was composed of representatives from each of the Wisconsin Tribes. Similar organizations existed for Minnesota and Michigan Tribes, formed under their respective state EPA Tribal liaisons: Steve Dodge (WI), Ed Fairbanks (MN), and Jennifer Manville (MI). WISTEC met at UW-Stevens Point and occasionally at Holly’s house around 1995 or 1996. WISTEC later became the Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council (WTCAC). In addition, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC), and Wisconsin Indigenous Housing and Economic Corp (WIHEDC). Steve also participated in Rev. Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign with Rainbow Coalition and the World Council of Indigenous Peoples where he brought back testimonials from the Native People of Central America to the United Nations in NYC.
In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s Steve worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on high level nuclear waste, which led to working for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an Environmental Specialist for the Great Lakes EPA Region until he retired in 2011. Steve served as liaison between Tribes and the Federal Government to create and implement environmental policies around water, air, and land quality impacts for tribes.
Steve successfully persuaded the Great Lakes Region to fund environmental staff to work for each federally recognized tribe in the Great Lakes Region. Eventually this success became a national program for all federally recognized tribes in the United States. In a major change for the federal EPA, Steve and his colleagues changed federal environmental programs, so that tribes could be delegated authority to administer federal environmental programs for air and water on reservation and treaty lands. That work also ended up going nationwide for all tribes in the United States.
Steve and colleagues extended their efforts beyond EPA by persuading multiple federal agencies to acknowledge their responsibility for working with tribes in formal, written Indian policies and memoranda of understandings (MOU); those federal agencies include Housing and Urban Development, Indian Health Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Forest Service. These MOUs acknowledged tribal sovereignty and federal responsibility to implement their programs in Indian Country, which is a major breakthrough in federal recognition of tribal sovereignty.
He loved to watch sports, often hosting watch parties of games and boxing events in his garage/man cave with friends and family. He hosted two live band concerts in his garage with the group Profane. He spent time playing golf in the summer leagues, tournaments and with family and watching their children and grandchildren play sports. Other hobbies included sailing, photography, ice fishing, trap shooting, archery, hunting, and stockcar racing. Steve was a volunteer firefighter for the Keshena fire department where he helped establish a new fire station, HAZMAT, and other equipment to enhance the department’s resources.
Additionally, Steve was a traditional dancer and sang with drum groups Rolling Thunder, Wolf River Singers, Bear Trap Singers, Badger Singers and Smokey Town. He attended traditional Big Drum ceremonies and raised his children with this knowledge.
Steve was a devoted father and husband to Faye whom he married in 1990. Together they raised a blended family of six children. He was an uncle to numerous nieces and nephews, brother to many, grandfather of nine, and two great-grandchildren. He loved hugging, coo-che-cooing his grandbabies and often giving them a nickname from him. Family was very important, whether it was celebrating birthdays or enjoying trips, frequently traveling to the family condos on Okaloosa Island, FL and Cozumel, Mexico. He traveled with family to China, Paris, Ireland, and the majority of the US. In the last few years of life Steve wanted to spend time with Faye traveling around the US. With the help of grandson Cheyenne, they were able to embark on numerous trips to both the east and west coasts in their camper.
Steve is survived by his devoted wife Faye A. Dodge; his children, Annie Dodge, Forrest Dodge, Stephanie Dodge, Ben White and Mike White; grandchildren, Simone Tucker (Christian), Cheyenne Dodge, Nate White, Mkomese Boivin, Ezekial Dodge, Connor Pocan, Kendra King, Holly King and Kenton King II.; great-grandchildren, Aiden Peters, Lasilah White; Mother: Patricia Beilke, siblings: Verlie Williams, Loretta (Pat) Mencheski, Roger & Tina Beilke, Marty (Sarah) Beilke, Tim Beilke, Carolee “Missy” (Edward) Francis: nephews, Garret (Teri) Francis, Daniel Blackowl, Okawaho Washinawatok, Meyakenew Kakkak, Maehkikasik Elissa, special cousins, Gina Washinawatok and Mary Dodge; and all his Special Brothers and Warrior Brothers (they know who they are). He is further survived by numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
Steve is preceded in death by his parents Richard (Snuff) and Paula Dodge, sister Tracy Dodge, brother Farren Bielke, daughter Denise Dodge, best friend Holly YoungBear-Tibbits and special brother Joe Young.
A Traditional Big Drum Ceremony for Steven Dodge will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the Zoar Ceremonial Hall beginning at 12:00 pm. Visitation will begin on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 11am at Mickelson Funeral Service in Shawano and continue until 2pm. Steven will then be taken to the Zoar Ceremonial Hall where visitation will begin again on Tuesday after 4pm. A traditional feast for Steven will begin at 6:00 pm on Tuesday at the Ceremonial Hall. Visitation will continue until 12pm on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the Zoar Ceremonial Hall until 2pm. Burial will take place at the Zoar Burial Grounds.
In lieu of plants and flowers, the family kindly requests memorials in Steven’s name to Menominiyou.org.
Mickelson Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc. of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.

STEVE WILL
ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED
AS A WARRIOR
FOR THE PEOPLE