Twyla E. Brown

Twyla Ester Brown, “Sungtokca Skā Winyañ” (White Wolf Woman)

Twyla Ester Brown was born on September 30, 1967.  She left us while sleeping peacefully and journeyed to the Spirit World on June 30, 2021, at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks ND at age 53 years old.

Twyla’s Wake will be held on Wednesday, July 7^th at the Fort Totten Recreation Center beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a time of prayer and remembrance at 7:00 p.m.  The procession to Fort Totten will leave at 4:00 on Wednesday from City Plaza, Devils Lake.

The Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, July 8^th at 10:00 a.m. at the Fort Totten Recreation Center with Reverend Anthony Samy officiating.  She will be laid to rest in St. Jerome’s Cemetery, Crow Hill.

Twyla was the daughter of Stephan A. Brown Sr. and Clara (Nanapush) Brown.   She attended school at Oberon Elementary School, then continued at the Kicking Horse Job Corp in Helena MT, receiving her GED in 1988.  She was not done learning and in 1992-1993 attended Cankdeska Cikana Community College and graduated with an Associate Degree in Business Administration and Accounting.  She then attended the Haskell Indian Junior College and earned her AAS in Office Technology and Data Processing. 

Twyla then began a long work career with the Spirit Lake Tribe.  She worked at CCCC as a Title III secretary, with the Spirit Lake Tribal Water Resource, Spirit Lake Finance Department and 2002 at the Spirit Lake Little Hoop College as a Secretary, later at Felix Restaurant, Spirit Lake Tribal assistance secretary, Spirit Lake Tribe Little Hoop data entry and file clerk, CCCC student apprentice and most recently in 2017 at the Spirit Lake Casino as a front desk clerk and night auditor.  She resigned to take care of her 5 grandchildren Helena, Gabriel, Haleigh, Tayvias and her special baby boy Caius, that she took as her son.  Twyla had many memorable moments with her grandchildren. 

Twyla was a very dedicated loving grandmother.  She treasured her grandchildren and embraced every moment with them.  She was a fun loving and caring sister, aunt, grandma, and mother. She was always willing to help anyone out whenever she could. She was always a great listener and gave great advice in any situation.  Most of all she loved her grandchildren and her son Steven, trying so hard to put him on the right path in life. 

Twyla loved to cook and kept an immaculate house.  She enjoyed her weekly outings with her sister Gwen and family.  She enjoyed watching the Green Bay Packers play and was a very dedicated fan.  She also enjoyed binge watching her favorite up-to-date moving “Pretty Little Liars” and “The Walking Dead”. Twyla enjoyed listening to her 80’s music, watching “Pretty In Pink”, “Breakfast Club”, Weird Science” and “Dirty Dancing”. She had fun playing Coin Masters and word trip games on her phone.  She enjoyed problem solving situations. She like anything challenging. Twyla was highly intelligent in finding new ways to surprise everyone she met.  She loved joking around with family, especially her niece Kimberly.  She also enjoyed watching Jason Feather Jr. and Jonathan Pero play high school basketball. She loved spending time at her sister Gwen’s place, having movie night with the family.  Her trip to Las Vegas in March was an incredibly special time. 

Twyla always enjoyed anyone’s company.  She made friends everywhere she went. Twyla will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.   She was an incredible mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin and dear friend.

Our beloved Twyla is survived by her mother Clara Brown; children Steven A. (Berdina Fox) Demarce, Pierre SD, Marlene (Jeremy Dauphinais) Demarce, Fort Totten; grandchildren Terrance Demarce, Elijah L.A. Demarce, Helena Demarce, Gabriel Blueshield, Haleigh Blueshield, Tayvius Demarce, Caius Demarce, Xavier Demarce; adopted children Michael McGee, Indica Fox, Summer Fox, Jason Feather Jr., Jace Feather, Dolen Richotte, Victoria Feather, Kris White and Jonathan Pero Jr.; uncle Francis Brown; sisters and brothers Larina Bugg, Lenore WhiteLightning, Elaine Brown, Steve Brown Jr., Stephanie Ramōn, Jackie Peltier, Gwen Brown and James Brown; many nieces and nephews and special nieces that were always around her Maureen Brown, Nikoni Brown and Roberta Christianson.

She was preceded in death by her Dad, Stephan A. Brown Sr., husband Jason B. Feather Sr., sisters Celestine Brown, Carole Jean Brown, Carlene Pearl Brown, Esther Ann Brown, Carol Rena Brown, Robert Brown and George Brown, nieces Clarice Brown and Leonnae Brown, nephews Clarence Brown, Jeffrey Robertson, Jacob Evan Brown, Roberto “Beto” Ramōn and Thomas “Jasper” Short. 

Pallbearers will be: Shelton Yankton, Wylee Belgarde, Herbert Blueshield, Cody Fassett, Anthony Brown, Daniel ManyRibs, Michael McGee, Kris White and Angel Georgeson. 

Honorary Pallbearers are the families of Kimberly Three Irons, Joy Yankton, Alyssa Cavanaugh, Debbie Chaske, Colleen Chaske, Lisa Chaske, Jolleen Chaske, Alma GoodIron, Megan Charboneau, Rena Anderson, Melody Christianson, Loreen Anderson, Fred Longie Jr., Porfirio Diaz Jr., Lorna WalkingEagle, Lorraine White, Iris Walking Eagle, Nancy Greene, Mark Robertson, Emerald Robertson, Karen Kay Jackson, Darcie Jackson Delorme, Tamera Littlewind, Irene McKay, Shawn Trottier, Tom Sullivan, Paul Mathany, Lisa Mathany, Myra Pearson and many others so dear to Twyla.

A Special thank you to Spirit Lake EMS, CHI, St. Alexius Hospital, Air Lift EMT, Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, Dr. Maria Pino, ICU Nurses-Duane, Josh, Heidi and Rachel W (who was there at Tyla’s admission and at her death), Respiratory Therapist-Pete, Palliative Care-Dr.Amanda, Father Cartwright of St. Michael’s Church, Grand Forks and Chaplin John from Grand Forks Hospital.