Donald Brown Sr.
courtesy photo
Donald Brown Sr.
POLSON — Donald Louis Brown Sr., 82, of Polson, peacefully passed away on Sept. 27, 2017, surrounded by his family. Don, the eldest of seven children, was born to Thomas W. and Dorothy M. (Morigeau) Brown Sr. on May 6, 1935, in St. Ignatius.
Don, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, began school in Ronan then attended Bremerton Dewey Junior High School and from there moved on to boarding school, Oglala Community High School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He returned home to play football for the Ronan Chiefs. In 1954 Don joined the Navy and attended boot camp in San Diego, California. From there he was stationed in Japan, Alaska and made a quick stop in Hawaii aboard the U.S.S. Eldorado. Don was honorably discharged in 1958 as an E-3 Seaman.
In 1960 he met his Pocahontas, Elizabeth St. John. Don and his friend attended a dance at the San Francisco American Indian Center, he laid eyes on some girls across the way, turned to his friend and said “I get the short one.” A month later they were married. Exactly nine months later they started their beautiful family of five.
Don, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth A. (St. John) Brown; five children, Elmer (Peggy) Bothell of Washington, Donna (Art) Lafferty, Donald Jr., Gina (Carla), and Jennifer, all of Polson; brothers, Bob (Donna) of Ronan, and Jerry of Polson; and sister, Nancy (Pete) Vaughn of Charlo; grandchildren, Danielle (Tony) Keller of Seattle, Washington, Erik of Tacoma, Washington, Riane of Olympia, Washington, Charla (Trenton) Brown-Kirkaldie of Hays, and Dawn (Josh) Griffin, Whitney (Bo) Brown-Bourdon, Bryan Yazzie, Natasha Lafferty, Josh, Marcus (Cree) Morigeau, Trisha (Juan) Mahkuk, all of Polson; as well as many loving nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren and extended family.
Donald Brown Sr. is preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Dorothy Brown; four brothers, Thomas Jr., Philip, Edward, Lyle (Chey); and grandson, Baby Boy Lafferty.
Services have been held.
Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at: www.lakefuneralhomeandcremation.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson.
