Barbara Jane Brown, 79

Barbara Jane Brown was born on July 3, 1945, in Everett, WA, to Lulla Belle and Howard Hedges. She passed on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at the Springs in Butte, Montana.

The family moved to Bozeman in 1946. They then moved to the family ranch in Cardwell, MT, where Barbara grew up. Her grade school years were spent as a Cardwell Cougar through eighth grade. Barbara attended Whitehall High School and graduated in 1963. Barbara participated in 4-H, where she showed steers and competed in livestock judging. She competed in the National Finals at the Denver Livestock Show.                      

Barb met Bill Brown (a Butte boy) her senior year; they were married on December 21, 1963, the coldest day of the year that year, and then spent their honeymoon in West Yellowstone when it was 47 degrees below zero. They lived in Whitehall after they were married. Barb worked in Butte while Bill attended college in Dillon. They moved to Butte after Bill graduated. Barb worked her whole adult life at Metals Bank, First Security Bank, and Minors Bank. Bill and Barb had many successful businesses including Charlie Brown's Pizza, Charlie Brown's Athletics, four different mini storages, and BB's Casino.

They moved to Whitehall in the late nineties and opened BB's Sports Arena Restaurant, now K-Bar & Grill. Barb was a loving and involved mom of Kimberly Jo and Kenneth Shawn. She went to all our activities. Bill and Barb celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in December of 2023. Bill and Barb spent winters in Arizona following Bailee and Brooke's activities. They also went to many horse races, including the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Breeder's Cup.

Bill and Barb owned many racehorses over the years. They had many win pictures because they had well-trained horses trained by their son Kenny. She was a loving grandma to all her grandkids and great-grandkids.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents Howard and Lulla Belle (Jody) Hedges, mother and father-in-law Ralph and Juanita Brown; Grandparents Goodlet and Jesse Rogers, Walter and Virgie Hedges, William and Mary Marr, and Jesse Brown.                

Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Bill Brown; children Kim (Mike) McLean and Ken Brown; sister Delores Forcella; brother Mike (Bev) Hedges; brother-in-law David Brown; grandchildren Zach (Sammie) McLean, Megan (Burton) Schilling, Casey (Haley) McLean, Bailee Brown, Emily Perez, Brooke (Wyatt) Smith; great-grandchildren Addy, Jaylee, Elly, Watson, Luxson, Bennett, Sienna, and River. She is also survived by her uncle Dick Rogers and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank The Springs staff and Paula and Riley from Senior Solutions Hospice for their loving care of Mom in her last week.

A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, September 7, 2024, in Whitehall at the Trinity United Methodist Church with Pastor Karin Lovgren officiating.