Ronald Wayne Brown (Hinhankaga Tokeca “Different Owl”), age 45, of Poplar, Montana died at his home of natural causes on July 30, 2008. Ron was born January 26, 1963 in Seattle, Washington to Ronald Hugh Brown and Vina Mae GreyBear.
Ron attended school in Weiser, Idaho; Great Falls, MT; Bismarck, ND; Wolf Point, MT; and Poplar, MT. He also attended Intermountain Intertribal School in Brigham City, UT.
Ron left home in 1981. He spent time in California where he earned his G.E.D. and a certificate in Culinary Arts. He returned home in 1986 and found the love of his life, his long time companion of 10+ years, the late Jeri Lynn Ferguson who passed away in 2001.
Ron didn’t have children, but he helped raise a few of his nieces, nephews, & recently a grandson, Marques Hugh Ron Brown. Ron adopted Mathew “Spud” Loves Him as a son and Joanne Steele as a daughter.
Ron spent a lot of time with his friends too numerous to mention. But they all know who they are and that they all share in our grief, as they were our extended family.
Ron loved to make people laugh with his crazy sense of humor. He had a certain way of telling a story, a joke, or something that happened to him and others. He also liked to tease – no one was safe when he was around.
Big Ron Brown, as he was affectionately known as, touched a lot of people with his kindness, generosity, and easy going ways. He will be missed greatly, dearly, and terribly by all who knew this “Gentle Giant”.
Preceding Ron in Death are his parents, Ronald Hugh Brown and Vina Mae GreyBear; his stepfather, Roy J. Longtree; maternal grandparents, Abraham ”Abel” GreyBear and Lottie Old Rock Brown; paternal grandparents, Joseph Brown, Sr. and Ruth Running Bear; Uncles, Hubert Brown, Leslie Brown, Delmer Brown, Abraham Brown, Thomas Brown, Sr., Gerald “Gramps” Brown, Joseph “Gi-Gi” Brown, Jr., Melvin GreyBear, Sr., Abraham “Judge” GreyBear, Sr., Oral GreyBear, Sr., Galen GreyBear, Floyd Youngman; Aunts, Wanda Brown, Sarah Weeks, Coretta GreyBear; Cousins, Brent Weston, Laurie Jo & Tanya GreyBear-Youngman; grandchildren, Janeya Royal Lizotte, Memory Rose Youngman, & Talon Skye GreyBear.
Ron is survived by his sisters, Vonnie Brown & family (Rosie, Trueth, Marques, & Nathaniel) of Grand Forks, ND, Valerie (Duane) Black Dog & family (Vina, Valeen, Maryanna, Davy Rose, Delaine, Duane, II, & Delyla) of Ft. Kipp, MT, Denise Longtree & family (Kristen, Kaylor, Kelcie, David, Ausin, & Deneya) of Poplar, MT; brothers, Lance LongTree, Delano LongTree ,and Jay Kirk all of Poplar, MT, Kermit Medicine Cloud of Kalispell, MT; aunts, Rita Brown of Wolf Point, MT, Phyllis (Robert) Olson, Judy (Dean) GreyBear, and Ava Old Rock Martin all of Poplar, MT, Lorraine GreyBear & family of Ft. Totten, ND, Vivian GreyBear & family of Anchorage, Alaska; grandmothers, Germaine Brady & family of New Town, ND, Delilah Johnson & family of Connell, WA. Other families include Pipe, Red Elk, Red Thunder, Jones, Long Hair, War Club. Adopted brothers: Jim (Irene) Flynn & Robert Brien. Numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, & grandchildren.
Wake services will be held at the Poplar Cultural Center August 7, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be August 8, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center with interment to follow at Chelsea Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.