Daniel Austin Brennan, age 89, of Amidon ND went to be with his Lord and Savior on Good
Friday of Easter week, April 3, 2026. How amazing and special that he went to Heaven the
same day Jesus Christ laid down his life for our Salvation.
Dan was born on September 14, 1936, in Dickinson ND, the oldest son of David and Clara
Brennan. Dan grew up in the North Dakota Badlands in Fryburg ND. He attended all twelve
years at Fryburg school where he enjoyed playing football and basketball. After high school, he
worked in the oilfield for a short time and then was hired on with the Burlington Northern
railroad. He walked from Medora ND to Minneapolis/St Paul MN working to restore the rails
one rail joint at a time.
He met the love of his life and married Irene Stockert on November 7, 1959. Dan and Irene
made their first home in Fryburg where he was hired on with Kessel Construction. They later
moved to Halliday where he helped build the Halliday school. Following his time in Halliday, he
and Irene moved to Irene's family farm/ranch to help Irene's dad for a few years where they
started their family. They then moved back to a country place west of Belfield when he was
hired on by Harold Schafer, the famous developer who came to save the town of Medora and
transform it into a major tourist destination. Mr Schafer with the Gold Seal Company hired Dan to
be his foreman, leading construction efforts to restore and build in Medora. During this
time, Dan led the construction of many buildings in Medora including work to help build
and start the famous Medora Musical, leaving his mark on a legacy in the Badlands of ND that
he loved.
Following his work in Medora, the family farm/ranch in Amidon called him back. He and Irene
moved back to Amidon where they spent the rest of their lives, raising the rest of their family, a
family of eight children. Between riding horses, dirt bikes and dune buggies, 4H and sports
while having kids in Amidon and some in Bowman including all the ranch work, Dan somehow
kept up with it all and provided for his large family. There were always extra kids that he loved
to take in from close family friends to extended relatives. It was important for him to help
anyone who was going through tough times and neighbors in need.
In his time on the ranch, he raised cattle, broke horses, farmed wheat and other crops, put up
hay, built grain bins, dug wells, fixed septic systems, poured concrete, did mechanics, did
construction, operated tractors, backhoes and large equipment, led 4H clubs, helped his
youngest son run a Bible camp ranch in WY, lent a hand and took in anyone who was in need
and most importantly loved his family, friends and neighbors and his Lord with his whole heart.

He was a man of great faith; the kind of faith that moves mountains. He was tougher than nails
but had the biggest heart. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. Monetary
possessions meant nothing to him, he valued the things you can't buy. He could build anything,
fix anything, raise anything, and pray his way through anything. In the last few years, he re-
sided and put a metal roof on the ranch house, put in new windows and doors, built cabinets,
poured concrete for his shop, worked with his oldest daughter and granddaughter and
husband with ranch work, helped all of his kids with anything they needed and continued to
teach anytime he could with everything he knew how to do and share his wisdom and faith.

He lived his life with "cowboy pride" and zero compromise. He was "old school" in every way.
He did not believe in modern equipment because he wanted to do everything by hand to keep
him physically strong. He believed in fixing things up, recycling anything he could, and making
things "home-made" versus buying new. He believed in living off the land and using everything
God gives us, raising a big garden with our mom and his granddaughter and grandkids every
year. He did not like eating at restaurants because anything "home-cooked" was way better
and better for you. He lived without insurance because God was his insurance. He did not go
to doctors. He was rarely sick and believed that God would heal him or take him home when it
was his time. He never seemed to age. He was 89 going on 59 and had his full capabilities in
every way and still living his life on the ranch with his granddaughter and her family. God
blessed him for his unwavering faith and gave him a full life.

He was the "rock" for his family and for so many more. If he knew you, he loved you. He loved
his wife Irene of 66 years with his whole being, held close all eight of his children and spouses,
helped raise his grandkids and great grandkids who were very special to him and were his
pride and joy. He loved his brothers and sisters and many nieces and nephews and close
family friends and neighbors like they were all his own.
Words will never express fully the man he was or what he meant and to his family and those
who knew and loved him. He was a man of character, he did not waver on what he stood for.
He measured you not by accomplishments, trophies or titles but for the person you were. He
was the greatest Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle, Neighbor and Friend.

Going to Heaven before Dan were his parents David and Clara Brennan, siblings Ellen Urban,
Frances Brennan, Betty Campbell, David Brennan, Thelma Bohn, Violet Brennan, Gloria
Brennan, Ida Prociv and many special in-laws, brothers and sisters of Irene's and their
spouses, his beloved granddaughter Amber Fae Brennan and many special nieces and
nephews, friends and neighbors.

He is survived by his wife Irene of 66 years, brother Frank "Jack" Brennan and his wife, Irene's sister, Betty (Stockert)
Brennan, his eight children; LaWanna Wilhelm (Terry), Clint Brennan (Jamie), Chad Brennan
(Samone), Dan Brennan (Patti), Brad Brennan (Lisa), Sherrie Nutter (Tim), Gary Brennan
(Lana) and Justin Brennan (Kodi); 19 grandchildren Shelby Hewson (Shannon), Cory Wilhelm
(Jessica), Ashley Ostrander (Matt), Chelcee Hlebechuk, Ashley Bouvette (Andy), Dalton
Brennan (Samantha), Karson Brennan, Erika Wescott (Alex), Aleah Waryas (Eric), Rio Nutter,
Laramie Nutter, Dillon Johnston, Josie Brennan, Matthew Brennan, Austin Brennan, Lukas
Brennan, Orey Brennan and AnnaBelle Brennan; and 11 great grandchildren: Elena, Sophia and
Hudson Hlebechuk, Everett, Walter, Hattie and Tillie Hewson, Brody Wilhelm, Autumn and Dakota
Wescott and Lily Waryas.

Memorials in Dan's honor can be made to Badlands Ministries Bible Camp, Medora, ND.

Dan's immediate family will be holding a family prayer service and spreading his ashes at the
ranch.

They are hoping to plan a Celebration of Life at a later date to be shared.