Lila K. Brown, 75, passed away due to natural causes at Northern Montana Hospital on Thursday, August 26, 2021.  Wake services will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 29, 2021, and will continue until her funeral service, which will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 30, 2021, all at the Fort Belknap Community Center.  Burial will follow in the Brown Family Cemetery near 3 Buttes.  Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Lila "Susie" Brown "wᴐsi'iinèƟaa,"Medicine Woman (75 yrs young) went to be with her relatives on August 26, 2021.  Lila was born to Gene and Christine (Capture) Cole on August 13, 1946 in Hays, MT.  She was raised with her 8 brothers along the brush in Hays and on the flats of Upper Missouri Breaks.  Named "Susie" by her dad, she attended school in Hays until staying at home to care for her father when he fell ill.  This began her long, full, life of caring for others and sharing her love and strength with family & friends.
Lila married Joe Brown, Sr on May 14, 1966 and raised their children in the Three-Buttes, and later, Three-mile area of the Fort Belknap reservation.  Susie and Joe shared all aspects of the home, family, and ranch, laying a solid foundation of hard work, love, and the importance of family for their children.  Susie travelled with Joe to every rodeo when he was riding broncs, drove truck and sorted stock while they were stock contractors, kept him pressed and in line when he announced rodeos, and counted bales when he was putting up hay.  Susie worked as a housekeeper at the old IHS hospital in Ft Belknap, where she & Mary Jones kept the hospital spotless and filled many other supportive roles for the patients and colleagues.
Following a medical retirement in the early 1990's, Lila's role changed from direct physical labor to supportive and foreman roles for Joe and her family.  Lila was very crafty with flowers, ropes, and sewing. She made personalized creations with ropes and flowers for any occasion.  She made blankets, pillows, aprons, and made sure to have matching receiving blankets and burp pads ready for every grand- and great-grand child.  She enjoyed visiting with her family and friends on the phone, keeping tabs on everyone as well as the local news.  If at all possible, she could be found sitting outside enjoying her flowers, at the barn, or alongside Joe out at the Brown place.
Susie's will to live as well as her love and concern for others was evident to the very end.  She had a spunk for life, matching her stubborn strength.  This spunk for life and stubborn wit was known by her family and friends and enjoyed by her health care teams as Fort Belknap (IHS & Public Health), Billings Clinic, and Northern Montana Hospital.  The family would like to thank her health care teams for not only the care, but the love they've shown Susie & her family.

Lila was preceded in death by per parents Gene and Christine Cole, brothers Sugar, Winky, Sack, & Billy Cole, sister Yvonne Buckles, son Little Jo Brown, and granddaughter Rayel Brown.

She is survived by her husband Joe Brown, Sr, Son Clint (Wanda) Brown, daughters Billie (Richard) Foote, Bobbie Brown, and Sue Brown, grandchildren Kaye, Clint, Ryle, Branlin, Makyla, Shayna, Chrissy, Cole, Tommy, and Daniel, Great-grand-children Ryla, Kadee, Declan, Kieran, Payton, Wylie, Khloe, Leo, Leigha, and Axel.  Lila is also survived by her brothers Andy (Charlene) Cole, Curley Cole, Ronald "Skunk" Cole, Swede (Leta) Cole, niece Dixie Brown, nephew Joe (Gaye Lynn) McConnell, special cousin/big sister Gertrude Werk, special friend Rita Helgeson, and many other cousins, nieces, and nephews she loved dearly.  Susie is blessed with a huge extended family, and we apologize if we have missed anyone.

Arrangements will be officiated by Melvin Rutherford and will be held at the Fort Belknap Community Center.  A Wake will be on Sunday 8/29/21, with Rosary at 5pm and Funeral will be on Monday 8/30/21 @ 10am.  Lila will be laid to rest at the Brown Family Cemetery @ Three-Buttes.  Following the burial, the family will share a meal back at the Fort Belknap Community Center.