Brian Price Hale

Hamilton, It is with great sadness and heavy hearts we announce the passing of our beloved, Brian Price “Big B” Hale, 56, of Hamilton, on Saturday, March 8th, 2025. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his devoted wife and his children.  He was born October 22, 1968, Pendleton, Oregon to Karen Hale (Greenup).

Brian was raised on a ranch in Hamilton where Karen married Ron Hale in 1969.  Brian learned his remarkable cattle, haying and farming skills at a young age and was a well-respected farmer throughout his life. Throughout high school he used his skills haying and earned a reputation as one of the best and fastest hay stackers with a New Holland bale wagon.  Brian was well known in the boxing community; he was an undefeated Golden Glove Champion. He graduated from Hamilton High School in 1988.

After high school and throughout his life Brian worked as a heavy equipment operator and a rock crusher foreman with various excavating companies throughout Montana, North Dakota and Alaska. During winter layoffs, Brian eagerly worked as a hunting guide both in The Bitterroot Valley and Eastern Montana for Rocking W Outfitters over a 30 year span.

In 1999, Brian met Kendra A. Herron while she was employed by his mother Karen Hale at The Banque Club and The Exchange. They became close friends, during this period of time, Kendra always referred to him as her big brother, Brian, which quickly evolved into “Big B”. The fires of 2000, Brian was eager to work making Caterpillar fire lines.  He re-lived those adventures, sharing the dramatic and somewhat humorous stories, he even sold some of his fire pictures to CNN. When the fires were finally out, so was Brian, on a new adventure to Southwest Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula, where he worked the next few seasons.

In 2002, after Brian returned to Hamilton for the holidays, Brian and Kendra’s friendship turned to romance, they were married in Hamilton, June 13th, 2006. The couple later embarked on one of two separate stints that spanned 7.5 years, where Brian took on the responsibilities as the ranch manager of Burning Daylight Ranch in Hamilton. Ironically, he returned to his childhood roots, the same ranch and position his dad, Ron once held decades before.

Brian was a Hamilton Eagles Lodge #1693 member and past Chaplain, he had mad skills with a snowmobile, enjoyed riding his motorcycle, he was an avid hunter.  He especially loved making his two grandkids and their friends laugh. He taught them anything and everything, it filled his heart to be adored by the kiddos, which was an easy accomplishment, because they all loved Big B, because he was a big kid!!! He was a Bitterroot icon who was easily recognized by his infamous Cowboy “Handlebar” Mustache and black Resignol Cowboy hat.  A legend with his friends and family as an adventurous daredevil and a mischievous, comical character with a rough and gruff approach, but tender and soft heart. He will be deeply missed and mourned by all who knew him.

Brian is preceded in death by his mother, Karen Hale; his father Patrick Cunningham.

Brian is survived by his devoted wife and best friend Kendra of Hamilton; two children, Brickael (Dean) Henderson of St. Cloud, MN, Austin Hale of Hamilton; two grandchildren, Landon and Brooklyn; dad Ron Hale; brother Jeff (Wendy) McChristian; two sisters Jody (Shawn) Morgan, Kristen (Sean) Mullett; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 14th, 2025 at 11:00 am, at Daly-Leach Chapel, Pastor Paul Anderson officiating.

A Celebration of Life will follow the service, Saturday at a location TBA.