Rockwood "Rocky" Brown

1928 - 2025

Rockwood (Rocky) Brown was an exceptional human being who contributed so much goodness to this world during his 97 years. He was beyond generous, yet humble and always kind. He served as a role model and mentor for so many, and lived life with integrity, character, and hard work. His kids always marveled that the worst thing they ever heard him say about someone was calling them a Dirty Bugger. He was a man of faith, and was a member and significant supporter of St Luke's Episcopal Church his entire life. To Rocky, family was everything. His priorities were spending time with his family, camping and river trips, spending time at the family ranch in Custer, and the family cabin in Whitefish. His greatest loves were his wife Marilyn, his kids, grandkids and great grandkids, his Wyo-Ben family, his law partners, his YMCA buddies, his Model A car, jazz music, and Macallan 12 scotch. (Not necessarily in that particular order.) Rocky loved his home state of Montana. He lived by The Montana Ethic, and said "Montana is always in my heart."

Rocky was born May 3, 1928 in Billings, Montana to his parents Rockwood Brown Sr. and Elizabeth Cleora Brown. He was raised on North 31st street during a time when that was considered the outskirts of Billings. Rocky was the youngest of four children and he followed in his father's footsteps by becoming an attorney, and the namesake for Brown Law Firm in Billings, which was established in 1911.

Rocky graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1946, and then attended the University of Montana for his undergraduate and law degrees. He graduated law school in 1952. It was during his college years that Rocky met the love of his life, Marilyn Alguire, to whom he was married to for nearly sixty years, until her death in 2010. He and Marilyn established their home in Billings following Rocky's time in the military as a Judge Advocate in Spokane, WA. In addition to practicing law for many years, he continued working as Senior Counsel for Wyo-Ben Inc. until he was 95. Rocky worked alongside his brother Keith, and his two nephews David and Richard, to continue and grow the family Wyo-Ben legacy.

Rocky earned numerous awards and honors during his legal career, including the prestigious William J. Jameson Award for distinguished legal service, the Philip N. Fortin Humanitarian Award from the YMCA, and the Neil S. Bucklew Presidential Service Award from the University of Montana Foundation. He generously served on many boards and committees including the Montana State Bar Ethics Committee, Billings Parks and Recreation Board, the Rocky Mountain College Board of Trustees, the University of Montana Law School Board of Visitors, and the Foundation for Montana History, among others. In addition to his other many accomplishments, Rocky was also the oldest surviving member of the Billings Hilands Golf Club.

Rocky was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn, his sister Barbara, and his brothers Neil and Keith. He is survived by his son Scott Brown (Debora) of Billings, his daughter Holly Brown of Billings, his daughter Julie Brown (Christine Molina) of Solana Beach, CA, his daughter Nancy Brown (Gary Martin) of Solana Beach, CA, and his daughter Rebecca Frank (Brian) of Joliet, MT. He is also survived by his grandchildren Lauren Brown (Chris Kelly and daughters Cecelia, Mckenna, and Ellis), Cody Brown (son Elio), Rockwood Frank, and Keith Frank.

Thanks to his kids, his "adopted" daughter Christine, and his caregiver Joyce, Rocky was able to spend the final years of his life happily living in his own home.

Rocky's Celebration of Life will be on Friday September 26 at 11:00 AM at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rocky's name can be made to Billings Family Services or the Billings Food Bank.