Dorreen Jo Brown, our beloved mother, daughter, and sister passed away on Monday, February 1, 2021, at the Poplar Community Hospital. Dorreen was born on April 18, 1963, in Poplar, Montana to Thomas Brown Sr. and Alva Bighorn.
Dorreen graduated from Brockton High School in May of 1981. She played basketball and was MVP for the Lady Brockton Warriors her sophomore year. She married Richard “Harvey” Campbell Sr. in 1982. Her beloved grandmother, Josephine Bighorn, stepped in last minute to be her Matron of Honor. Dorreen and Harvey settled in Wolf Point, Montana and to this union, Heather, Richard Jr., and Felisha were born. They later divorced and she married Charles Black Dog in 1996. They had three daughters, Marlana, Marcella, and Martina. Dorreen and Charlie lived in Fort Kipp, Montana and she would often travel with Charlie and the Black Dog Band and sometimes play tambourine. After their divorce, Dorreen had a longtime companion, Garrison Canuto. They had a belnded family and lived in Williston, North Dakota for several years and then finally, Sidney, Montana. Dorreen enjoyed traveling to New Mexico with Garrison to his family home. They went to the Sturgis Rally in South Dakota every year; this last year being especially memorable because she went on a zip line for the first time ever.
Dorreen was the only daughter of four siblings, her brothers, Thomas, Wesley, and Troy. Growing up, she often stayed with her grandparents, Alpheus and Josephine Bighorn. Grandpa taught her how to drive at the young age of 12. She was affectionately known by Dode or as a classmate teasingly dubbed her “Butterball”.
Throughout her life, Dorreen held odd jobs – she worked as a firefighter for the Fort Peck Tribes, she worked at fast food restaurants in Williston, but her main job was being a loving stay-at-home mother. She liked to camp out at the local pow-wows and she enjoyed going to bingo and playing machines with her mother. Holidays were her favorite time because of the large Bighorn Family gatherings. She liked to cook and she made the best apple crisp. She enjoyed listening to music and if she liked a song, she would play it on enless repeat. Most of all, Grandma Dorreen loved to watch her grandchildren and nieces and nephews play basketball.
Dorreen is preceded in death by her grandparents; her father; uncle Maurice Bighorn Sr.; and much -loved daughter, heather Renee.
She is survived by her mother, Alva Bighorn of Brockton, Montana; her children; son Richard (Sarina) Campbell Jr. of Billings, Montana and daughters Felisha (Bo) Crowe of Helena, Montana, Marlana, Marcella, and Martina Black Dog of Poplar, Montana. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Nathan Nash Jr., Freedom Nash, Michael and Malcolm Adams, Hamyonie Capbell, Richard Campbell III, Rylan Campbell, Jathyn and Jacie Jo Campbell, Mylan “Chuey” Wetsit Jr., Ameah and Laura Wetsit, Bradyn, Darla, and Leola Crowe, Ta’Nesiya Olson, Kaine Fasthorse Jr., Kade Black Dog, and Duran Franklin; her brothers, Thomas (Nonette) Brown, Wesley Brown, and Troy Brown, all of Brockton, Montana; sister Crystal Brown of Wolf Point, Montana; her uncle, Alpheus Bighorn Jr.; aunt Alice (James) Melbourne of Brockton and many cousins and nieces and nephews.
A viewing will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point, Montana. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 12, 2021 at the Red Eagle Church in Fort Kipp, Montana. Interment will follow at Fort Kipp Cemetery.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements and condolences for the family can be left by using the form below.