Curtis S. Sample

Curtis Steven Sample
February 27, 1955 – July 11, 2025
Curtis Steven Sample, 70, passed away on Friday, July 11, 2025, at Rosebud Healthcare Center with his wife, Nancy, by his side. Curt was born February 27, 1955, to Art and Melva (Cartwright) Sample. He joined his siblings, Linda, Cal, and Mark, and grew up in Forsyth, where he spent his youth running wild with cousins and neighborhood friends.
Curt attended Forsyth Schools and graduated in 1973. Even in his teenage years, he had a sharp business sense and a relentless work ethic. While still in high school, he proudly earned money to buy his prized 1968 green-and-black Plymouth Road Runner. When his dad, Art, traveled to Denver for back surgery, Curt and his brother Mark ran the shop. He skipped so many days of school running Art's that we weren't sure he'd get to graduate. Fortunately, Rosebud County Sheriff Bob Ash kept a watchful eye on him.
After high school, Curt worked in Colstrip and, in 1976, began tending bar for Jack Snyder, Nancy's dad. That summer marked the beginning of Curt and Nancy's long love story. They married in 1980 and built a life full of hard work, deep love, and unwavering partnership. Together, they raised their son, Steven, and welcomed their granddaughter, Solara, in 2013. He loved being a dad and a grandpa.
For fifty years, Curt and Nancy worked side by side, not only building a life but also creating a landmark. Buff's Bar wasn't just a business; it was Curt's place, where the beer was cold, the stories were tall, and generations of Forsyth kids couldn't wait to visit. Buff's was a local institution, and Curt was its heart. He was a local icon, and he left his mark in ways that can't be measured. Curt loved Buff's, his family, his corvettes, and his ponytail.
Curt was preceded in death by his father, Art Sample; his brother, Cal Sample; and his father-in-law, Jack Snyder. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his son, Steven; his beloved granddaughter, Solara; his mother, Melva; his stepfather, Jay Donley; his siblings Linda (Mark) Hubbard and their families, Mark Sample and his family; his brother-in-law, Gary Snyder, and family; and numerous Cartwright and Sample cousins.
Curt's passing leaves a void that can't be filled. He was truly one of a kind. His legacy lives on in the family he cherished, and the bar he built and loved. Please join Nancy, Steven, Solara & family in celebrating Curt's life on Thursday, July 31, from 2–5 PM at Buff's Bar. We'll be sharing stories, raising a glass, and remembering the man who made Buff's what it is. If one desires, memorials can be made to the Community Foundation of Northern Rosebud County (CFNRC).