Obituary of Billie Rae Brown

Billie Rae Brown (63) passed away in St. Maries, ID on November 18, 2022 with family by her side. She was born to William and Winnie (Usrey) Tiller on July 18, 1959, in Burns, OR. Billie attended school in Orofino and graduated from Orofino High School with the class of 1977.Following high school, Billie took a job as a bartender to put herself through college. She enrolled into LCSC in Lewiston and obtained her BA degree in Business Administration. In the early 1980’s, she reconnected with James Brown who was a friend of hers in high school. They married in 1985 in Coeur d’ Alene, ID, and made their home in Orofino. Billie worked as a Clearwater County dispatcher for a few years, and then went to work at the USDA office in Soil and Water Conservation.

In 1996 the Brown family relocated to St. Maries where Jim went to work for Potlatch Corporation. Billie went to work for Potlatch in 1998 as an HR Assistant. She then became the Administrative Secretary for the mill and was still currently working for Potlatch-Deltic at the time of her death.

Billie was a workaholic and she enjoyed her “Hobby Job” serving as the Regional Rep. for the Soil and Water Conservation District thru 2017. She was instrumental in securing the grant for the overhaul on the St. Maries River Road into the Benewah. She also enjoyed outings with her family, her Persian cats, and Days of Our Lives. Billie was a very talented pianist and vocalist who loved to perform and shared love of music with her children.  

Billie is survived by her children Tansi Pedersen of Orofino, ID and Roddy Brown of St. Maries, ID; her mother Winnie Tiller-Spoon of Orofino, ID; siblings Ivan Tiller of Rainier, OR and Eric Tiller of Chanel View, TX; 5 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband James Brown, daughter Audra Dawn Pedersen, and her father Bill Tiller.

Billie will be laid to rest with her daughter Audra.