Our Poppa peacefully crossed the veil on July 18 2026 after a short illness.
He was born to Bruce Palmer Brimhall and Ella Dortha Brown on September 28, 1939, in Mesa, Arizona.
He graduated from Farmington High School in 1957. In 1958 he bought a trading post named Ts’ah Tah,(meaning “place among the ”) in San Juan County NM, where he began to learn to speak fluent Navajo. Before being drafted, he enlisted in the United States Army in January 1961. He was an Airborne Ranger with A company in the RR Unit, 18 Corps, Sky Dragons Battalion (Gaggin ), stationed in Phu Bai Vietnam where he served until September 1964. Upon his return home, he bought and ran Huérfano Trading Post until 1974. He then worked the oil/gas rigs for Jessco until he joined the Millwright Union and traveled from power house to power house in Wyoming, Montana, Oklahoma and California. He began work in the early 80s at Prewitt, NM for Plains Electric/TriState Generating Station as a maintenance mechanic until his retirement in 2002. After retiring, he traveled extensively throughout the Southwest, enjoying boating, hunting, fishing and horseback trips. He spent an extended time in Chickaloon Alaska, exploring, hunting and fishing.
Over the course of the years, he met and married four wonderful women. One of them twice….
He was father to Stephanie Lea and Sabrina Louise. Grandfather to Jade Elise, Alyssa Consuelo, Danielle Lee, and Darbee Claudine. Great Grandfather to Maya Gabrielle, Isaiah Valdemar, Gabriel Angel and Chevelle Rose.
And Great Great Grandfather to Issac Immanuel.
He is preceded in death by his daughter Sarah Lane and his brother, Dr. David. He leaves behind a sister (Christina) and a brother (Dink) and many nieces and nephews, cousins and dear friends.
He was a fierce supporter of every achievement and a steadfast shoulder in times of strife. He lived, like he loved. All in. He taught us hard work, integrity, critical thinking and to love the land and all the creatures who live here. He instilled a wanderlust for adventure and the want to explore places off the beaten path. Though he has left his earthly home, he remains forever in our hearts and we will meet again…. Hágoóneé Shizhé’é.
Rest well Ranger.
Services are as follows:
22 August 2026 at McGaffey Wildlife Conservation Center in McGaffey NM at 11 am. Celebration of life and lunch.
12 September 2026 at Memories Event Center 71 Road 5324 in Farmington NM at 11 am. Celebration of life and lunch. Honors and Internment following.
Contact Stephanie at taosraven@gmail.com for details