Richard L. Brownell

Richard (Dick) Leroy Brownell, 82, long-time Pendroy farmer and rancher, died August 15, 2024, from injuries sustained from a fall while working on the family farm.

 A memorial will be held at a later date.

Richard was born May 18, 1942, to Robert and Viola Brownell in Conrad, MT. While growing up on the family farm near Pendroy, he attended Pendroy school through eighth grade and graduated from Conrad High School in 1960. He completed an associate’s degree in drafting from Northern Montana College in 1965.

He met Carol Boisen while at college in Havre. After a brief courtship, they married on June 23, 1965, and enjoyed 59 together. After a brief courtship, they married on June 23, 1965, in Columbia Falls. Shortly after their marriage, Richard was drafted into the Army and served stateside primarily as a surgical nurse/technician for two years. After his service, Richard and Carol moved back to Havre where Richard worked as draftsmen for a short time before returning to Pendroy to help his parents on their farm.

In 1971, they welcomed their son Justin. In 1972, they purchased their own farm in the Pendroy area where they raised grain and cattle. In 1973 their daughter Rachel was born. Richard continued to farm and ranch up to his death.

Richard was known around the community as a handyman, carpenter, and all-around good neighbor. He was active in Pendroy Fire and Rescue and served on the local school board and Teton County Fire Fee Service Area Board.

He loved his dogs, his horses, and his faithful shop feline companions. Richard enjoyed pack trips into the backcountry with family, friends, and a few “greenhorns.” In his later years, he built furniture out of caragana wood, played cribbage (which included helping his grandchildren fine tune their playing skills), and occasionally drowned a worm in the fishing pond. To celebrate his first Father’s Day, Richard and long-time friend John Clark decided to take their wives and two babies fishing in a fly-infested cow pasture beside a river. The two young families came home hot, tired, and fishless.

Richard is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol, of the family farm; his son, Justin (Mona DeBoo) of Pendroy; his daughter Rachel (Fred) Christensen of Choteau; grandchildren, Derek Brownell, Tessa Brownell and Addison Christensen; his siblings, Larry Brownell, Kathleen Woeppel and David Brownell; his special aunt, Mary Ellen Brownell; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to the Pendroy Fire and Rescue unit.