Rayel Jai Brown

Rayel Jai Brown, age 25, left this earth to fly high with the angels on September 30, 2017. A visitation was held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2017, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Home in Havre. Graveside services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 5, 2017, in the Harlem Cemetery. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home were entrusted with arrangements. Please visit Rayel's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Rayel was born in Havre, MT on June 13, 1992 to Clint & Wanda Brown. She attended elementary and high school in Harlem, graduating from Harlem High School with honors in 2010. She excelled in both academics and athletics as a Harlem Wildcat. Following high school Rayel followed various health-related career aspirations and changed her major a few times while attending college at MSU-Bozeman, Salish Kootenai College (SKC), and again back at MSU-Bozeman. While at SKC she also held dual-enrollment with the University of Montana for both coursework and an invited summer internship. She graduated from SKC with honors in the spring of 2014.

Rayel was a proud member of the Montana Army National Guard in the 631st Chemical Company, Nomads Platoon Hazardous Response out of Missoula, MT. She completed her Basic Training in Ft. Leonardwood, MO March 26, 2015 and She completed her Advanced Individual Training as a 74D on June 3, 2015. Throughout her training, and since, Rayel has received several awards and recognition for excellence, including being platoon leader. She was extremely proud and honored to serve and has made numerous lifelong friends through her service. Recently she was recommended as the first female and Montana's only invitee to participate in an Army National Guards Warrior Challenge. Unfortunately, because of an accident following a women's horse race at the 2017 Phillips County Indian Relay Races, she injured her shoulder and was unable to participate.

Rayel was a natural athlete and held fitness and health as a high priority in her life. She spent a great deal of her free time riding horses, working out in the gym, playing basketball, running, and hunting. She especially enjoyed being outdoors, and all animals. She treasured her time helping with and learning about horses from her dad and her "ole fella" grandpa Joe Brown. During the spring she helped at many local brandings, with her favorite times being spent at the Crasco Ranch in Beaver Creek. In the late summer she was always ready to buck bales to help her grandpa pick up hay at 3-Buttes.

She always went out of her way to encourage others with fitness and activity, whether it was taking her nieces and nephews on walks or runs, helping and encouraging others in the weight room, or just providing high five's and positive words of encouragement. She played basketball for the SKC Women's Basketball team and hit many Open Women's Basketball tournaments across the northwest. She enjoyed participating annually in the Ft. Belknap Ultimate Fitness Challenge, where she was always the horseback rider for her teams. She also enjoyed riding in any local horse races. She was always up for a challenge and provided her best effort while having FUN!

She was a natural leader and an "all around hand." She was a jack of all trades and just a one-of-a-kind character. She was her papi's sidekick and had her mother's sense of humor and mischievousness. She had a personality and presence that lit up any room she entered. Rayel instantly made friends wherever she went, always teasing in a good-natured way. Her unique sense of humor and good spirited nature made any encounter with her a memorable one.

Her family knew she was a tumbleweed, often watching the direction of the wind, wondering where it may be taking her and when she would blow back in. She enjoyed traveling and did so extensively, both for work and play. Wherever the wind blew is where Rayel ended up.

Her achievements and accomplishments were many, spanning many areas of her life. As a sophomore, Rayel's essay regarding Indian land consolidation was chosen as the winner for the 2008 Intertribal Agriculture Council Youth Agricultural Essay. This award included a paid family trip to Las Vegas to present her essay, accept the award, and attend the annual Intertribal Ag Council Conference. Because of this award and her networking in Las Vegas, Rayel was invited by the Seminole tribe to present this same essay at the prestigious 100th Anniversary of 4-H Club Conference in Florida a few months later. This award also included an all-expenses paid trip for Rayel and her grandmother Peggy to Florida, where they were treated like royalty, including a helicopter ride to the conference motel and red-carpet entrance upon their arrival.

With her many skills and because she enjoyed learning and being around people, Rayel has worked multiple jobs. Some of these included seasonal firefighter (line & engine crew), various office jobs, corrections officer, bartender/counselor, and most recently Healthcare Benefits Coordinator.

Rayel is survived by her parents Clint, Sr. & Wanda Brown, sister Kaye Brown (Brad Fox), brothers Clint Brown, Jr (all of Ft. Belknap), and Troy Doney (Missoula, MT). Maternal grandmother Peggy Crasco Doney, aunts Trista (Bill) Main, Darcie Doney (Gibby Russette), paternal grandparents Joseph & Lila Brown, uncle Lil' Joe Brown, aunts Billie Jo (Richard) Foote, Bobbi Jean Brown, Sue Brown, Mikkie Grant, cousins Makyla, Shayna, & Chrissy Fetter, Cole Brown, Ryle & Branlin Foote, Tommy Champagne, nieces Ryla and Kaydee Brown, Declan Fox, cousins Chris and Pat Cole, aunt and uncle Jake and Juanita Crasco, cousins Jasmine and AJ (Stacy) Crasco, and many other beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and other extended family, including the Crasco, Doney, Cole, and Brown families. Rayel is preceded in passing by her paternal grandfather Alvin Doney. Rayel made family everywhere she went and has a large extended network of family and friends. Please forgive us if we have missed anyone.

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