Ralph "Dale" Brown

     Ralph Dale Brown passed away at home in Gooding, Idaho December 4, 2023 surrounded by family.

     He was born September 30,1936 in Nampa, Idaho to William Percy Brown and Mabel (Pounds) Brown.

     He started school at Gooding, Idaho and continued his education until he graduated in 1954. He went to Montana and built fence out of Bozeman and worked as a wrangler driving cattle over the Gallatin Valley. He packed for Jack Hume and came home when his grandfather was killed in an automobile accident. He attended Boise Junior College for one year, and then went on to compete in amateur rodeo for 3 to 4 years.  He joined the PRCA and then went back to the amateurs. He traveled with his brother Earl and later with Larry Robinson, Dick Anderson and Dennis Manning. His cousin Larry Brown joined the group later. He joined the Army in 1961, and was stationed in Germany and had and honorable discharge in 1964. In 1965, he won the bareback riding.  In 1967 he won the bareback riding and took 2nd in the all-around.  In 1968 he won the all-around at Squaw Valley, California and retired from the rodeo shortly after.

     In April of 1969, he married E. Kathryn Keith in Marsing, Idaho by a friend, Bill Robertson. They moved to Kenai, AK that fall so Dale could work with his cousin, Don Brown. He stayed for a year and came back to manage a ranch in Lida, Nevada for three years. After that, he returned to Gooding and farmed with his dad and later bought the farm and farmed for several years. He started a trucking business, Dog Creek Ranch III in 2000 and drove until 2008, when he retired. He helped feed cattle in the winter with his brother Earl until his health deteriorated and he was unable to continue working with the cattle. He was inducted into the Idaho Cowboy Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2001.

     He is preceded in death by: his parents, an infant son; a brother - Harvey Lee; sisters - Virginia James, Elaine Watkins, and Lois Brown.

     Dale is survived by: his wife of 54 years – Kathy; beloved dog – Tater; son - Ron (Jodi) Brown; and daughter - Tara (Casey) Thomas; grandchildren - Caleb Hitt, Mallory Brown, Braden Brown, Tim Thomas, Chelsea Thomas, Ken Thomas, Alyson Thomas, Taylor Thomas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

     The family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses at North Canyon Medical Center for all the compassionate care they gave to Dale during his hospital stays and daily infusions. The family would also like to thank Idaho Home Health Hospice, nurses Leslie and Brian, and the aide Isabella for their care of Dale.

     A celebration of life for Dale will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 11:00 am at the Gooding First Christian Church 334 West 4th Ave. in Gooding.  Inurnment will follow at the Elmwood Cemetery in Gooding.

     A potluck dinner will follow at the 4-H Building at the Gooding Fairgrounds 203 Lucy Lane in Gooding.

     Funeral and cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to

North Canyon Medical Center Chapel Fund

in memory of Dale Brown.

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