The two met while Mary was playing golf at the University of Montana and Tuff was on the football team. Tuff is an enrolled member of the Apsaalooke Nation (Crow Tribe) and is also of Northern Cheyenne descent.
Mary met Tuff through her involvement in golf at the University of Montana, where he was part of the football squad. As it happens, Tuff belongs to the Apsaalooke Nation (Crow Tribe) and is also a descendant of the Northern Cheyenne people.