Brownell “Brownie” Parks, age 72 of Ringling

After a wonderful weekend with family and friends, sadly Brownell P. Parks, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday afternoon, on Feb. 6^th, at the age of 72 at his home in Ringling, MT.

Brown entered this world on Jan. 23, 1947 at 7:07 pm at St. Luke’s Hospital in Fargo, ND. Born the second child, and first son, of Paul Wesley Parks and Elda “Ets” Ida Francis Krebsbach of Lisbon, ND. He now made his sister Paulette “Binks” a big sister. While in Lisbon, his parents ran a cafe named “Parky’s”. His father was a horseman, always liking to work the cattle side of things, dabbled in boxing, and seemed to have “itchy feet”, or possibly looking for the perfect lifetime opportunity, which led them to move multiple times. On Dec 6th 1951, along came brother Tim, also born in Fargo. Soon after his parents took a trip ‘out west’, they moved the family to Big Timber, MT. Here Paul got a job on the Fairview Angus Ranch, and Brown attended 1st grade at the Basin Creek School in the Melville area in 1953. Their younger brother Jayson was born on Jan. 21, 1954 during a bad blizzard, and still to this day is the coldest day ever recorded in January in Montana.

It wasn’t long before his father’s ‘gypsy nature’ kicked in, and the family moved north to the Cooney Ranch on the Fish Creek Drainage. It was here, after a day of tromping wool, that Brown decided he was going to be a cowboy, and not a sheep-man! Brown recalled in his journal, “that Cooney’s had this mean Shetland pony that would make some ideal rodeo stock, so with some help from one of the ranch hands, I fashioned my first bareback rigging. I’d get him in, get this thing on him, and he’d tear around the corral trying to unload me. I think about 2 laps and he’d be out of gas, and I’d crown myself all-around CHAMP for the day!.” Brown always had his “cowboy gear” on – boots, fake guns, ‘Roy Rodgers’ type of stuff… he said “they had no TV, so you had all sorts of time to dream up stuff!” This gave plenty of opportunities to pull pranks on their parents and teachers, which continued on through his younger days, especially with childhood friends . Brown attended 2nd grade at the nearby Langston Schoolhouse.

At age 8, Brown’s family moved to the American Fork Ranch, south of Two Dot. Here his dear mom worked as the cook on the ranch and Brown attended 3rd-5th grades at the Two Dot school. As a child, growing up in the shadow of the Crazy Mountains, a deep love for the mountains and nature in general was instilled in Brown. The family moved again in 1956 to Shawmut, where Brown attended grads 6th-8th grades and they continued on with their pranks. They moved north to Havre and Brown attended Havre High School as a freshman. With his family finally putting down roots in Livingston, in 1963, Brown finished his last 3 years of high school and participated in football, wrestling, track, winter sports and rodeo. Upon graduating in 1965, Brown went to work for the Northern Pacific Railroad as a signalman and joined the Army National Guard.

In 1968, Brown married Linda Maronay in Livingston, his son Rowdy Ray was born from this marriage in 1970. The couple divorced in 1971. Brown left the railroad and, with an honorable discharge as Armor Recon Specialist and Staff Sergeant from the National Guard, decided that he wanted to “see some of America.” So he took a job with Garrett Freight, out of Miles City, driving a cab-over Marmon truck pulling a grain trailer. His first trip took him from Miles City, MT to Houston, TX, and up to Edmonton, Calgary. After this, the 25 year old ‘kid’ was turned loose with his new Rand McNally to “see America through a windshield” and get paid for it! Over the next 40 years he trucked all over North America, spanning from California to Miami, and all the way up to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, hauling everything from oysters and produce, to gravel, livestock, equipment and Christmas trees. You name it, and Brown could haul it!

Brown married Dona Lebie Atwater in 1974, in Sturgis, SD. In 1975, Brown went to work for Corral West Ranchwear, managing stores in Wyoming and Montana for a period of 9 years. During this time, while also helping raise Dona’s daughter Jeanette “Charlie” Atwater, Tawni was born in Gillette, WY. in 1979 and later came Jacalynn, in 1982 in Glendive, MT. In 1985, Brown and Dona divorced and Brown went back to trucking. At this time, Brown also became more serious about art as a hobby. Brown’s sense of humor, love of the West and mountains, ranching, trucking and Montana History were often depicted in his work.

In 1988, Brown went to work for his grade school friend Mac White on his ranch near Two Dot. Brown’s daughters remember fun memories of going trucking and helping on the ranch with their father. Brown met Judith “Judy” Henderson in April of 1994, and he quickly introduced her to trucking and the ranching way of life. On Aug. 15th, 1998 they were married north of Two Dot, at their home with their family and friends, and slept in a teepee for their first night of marriage. The couple lived and worked in the Two Dot area until 1999 when then they moved to Ringling, MT to work for the Galt brother Ranches.

Brown worked for numerous trucking companies and area ranchers up until the time of his death, even though he was retired. It must have been all those hours behind the wheel; whether it be a semi or a tractor, that gave Brown lots of time to dream out more visions to play out into his next project. Brown always had a camera, notebook, and pen in his lunchbox or shirt pocket to record his daily happenings. He loved to document his life through a click of the camera or with writings, stories, poetry, cartoons and drawings. Brown faithfully kept detailed accounts of his many travels and day to day life which he stated was a trait given to him from his mother. Brown loved to collect historic “junk” as well!

Brown was a lifelong teacher to many, instructing various people how to drive semi, run ranching equipment, name wildflowers and birds found in the hills, spot the best fishing holes, and properly take care of wild-game. Brown enjoyed anything he could do with his hands; leather working, carving and sculpting, hunting, gold panning, cooking, painting, drawing, documenting and photography. Brown loved socializing, either with a face to face chat or a quick phone call to discuss the weather, among any number of topics. His cheery voice will be missed by so many.

It was obvious to anyone who knew Brown that he loved the mountains. Whether it was a hunting trip, a drive through the mountains, a float trip on the river, or a camping and fishing trip with his family and friends, Brown couldn’t resist. “The Mountains are calling, and I must go,” was one of his favorite sayings. It was on those trips that Brown loved teaching his kids and wife, and later on his grand-kids, his knowledge and love of nature. If ever there was a person that could appreciate all that God created, it was Brown. A slow Sunday drive through the mountains, or a quiet camp site next to a clear mountain stream was “as good as it gets,” according to Brown.

Brown had such a passion for Native American and Montana history. Along with close friends and family, Brown was lucky enough to retrace portions of the Lewis & Clark journey along the Missouri and Smith River, he labeled their trip on the Mighty Mo as the “Parks Mager Expedition” and was one of many memorable trips that he liked to tell and paint about. Anyone could pull up a stool next to Brown at the Saloon and be blessed with an amazing story, warmed by his infectious laugh and become lifelong friends from there on out.

Brown’s love of Montana often showed in his artwork. He had a way of seeing things as how they might have been years ago, his ‘vision’ as he would call it. To anyone who saw a piece of his work, his respect and appreciation of times past was very apparent. And Brown’s mustache, rosey cheeks, twinkle in his eye, and just his unique outlook on life will be forever missed by his family and so many friends.

Brown was preceded in death by: his parents Paul (Aug. 7, 1973) and Ets (Dec. 12, 1986), and his step-daughter, Jeanette “Charlie” Atwater, (Jan. 16, 2000). Brown is survived by his wife, Judy Parks, of Ringling, MT and step-daughter Sheray Shardy and his grandson Kayden of Gibsonton, FL. His daughter Tawni (Ryan) Cordell, and his grandchildren Kimber, Kynlee, and Barrett of Camp Crook, SD. His daughter Jacalynn (Jacob) Parks Miller of Miles City, MT. His son Rowdy of Livingston, MT and his grandchildren Slone and Rayce of Billings, MT. Along with his sister Paulette (Jack) Roma of Billings, MT and their children Monte, Gordy, and Julie and their families. Brother Jay (Kim) Parks of Shepherd, MT and their children Kaley (Ryan) Bradshaw and Trent (Kaycee) Parks of Billings, MT. Brother Tim (Candy) Parks of Livingston, MT and their daughter Heather of Little Canada, MN. Aunt Floss (Marvin) Johnson of Sheridan, WY along with so many close friends.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Brown on June 8^th, 2019 at the RBI Inc in Ringling, MT. Everyone is welcome.  Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Brownie.

(Many stories and excerpts were taken from Brownie’s personal life uncompleted journal: Autobiography of Brownell P. Parks).

Service Schedule

Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.

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