Aloysius Dallas Brien was born on June 30, 1930 to William Joseph and Rose LaFromboise Brien in Belcourt, North Dakota, the oldest of their 9 children.  He passed into eternity praying his Scriptural Rosary on Wednesday February 26, 2025, on the feast day of St. Isabelle of France, at the age of 94.  As a boy and young man, Dallas attended boarding school in Stephan, South Dakota, graduating from there in 1949.  After high school, Dallas served in the U.S. Navy for 5 years and traveled all over the world as a Ship Serviceman with the duty of Troop Transport during the Korean War.  He said he never go sea sick once while crossing the ocean!

On September 25, 1954, Dallas married Beatrice "Theresa" Poitra at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Belcourt, ND.  They were married nearly 52 years and together they raised 7 sons.  Dallas was one of the first Turtle Mountain Chippewa Michifs to graduate from the University of North Dakota on June 5, 1960, receiving his BA from the UND College of Science, Literature, and Arts. After graduating, Dallas began working to put his education to good use.  His work history includes helping to establish, along with former Governor Guy and others, the United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, ND, as the founding Executive Director, from 1969-1971.   To Dallas, it was always an established fact that education would be the key to the success of the future Native American people.  Furthermore, he believed education was necessary to allow them to best participate in the great American dream of God, family, work, and rest.  Returning to Belcourt form 1971, Dallas used his talents to assist with various tribal projects including important infrastructure efforts.  A few years after returning to the area, Dallas was instrumental in the founding of the KEYA Public Radio in Belcourt, ND.  And so, in 1974, KEYA became the 2nd tribally controlled National Public Radio Station in the country.

Following his establishment of KEYA, Dallas experienced a profound spiritual experience.  Through this experience, he chose to dedicate the next 50 plus years to full-time Rosary, Holy Mass, Adoration, Novenas and prayers, for himself, his family, the Turtle Mountain people and Catholics world-wide.  In the first years after his conversion, one of Dallas' favorite duties was to pray his daily rosary with his dad and mom in French before his dad, "Grandpa Bill" passed away in 1987.   Additionally, Dallas and Theresa would pray the rosary live every evening on KEYA radio for many years.  Although it is no longer live, the nightly rosary is still a mainstay of KEYA's evening schedule.

For over half a century, Dallas would spend hours each day praying His Rosary and Adoring our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.  Dad would often say, "my job is to pray." Dallas was often in the church and was a fixture of the St. Ann's Novena Procession and Rosary for many years. He was a dedicated supporter of the St. Ann's Mission among the Chippewa and Michif people.  Of everything Dallas would be remembered for, his most lasting legacy is the strong Catholic faith, and the love for Jesus, Mary, and St. Joseph, that he instilled in his family and shared with the entire Turtle Mountain community.

Dallas is survived by his sons, Pierre "Chip" (Rose) of Kotzebue, AK, Charles "Chuck" (Marsha) of Grand Forks, ND, Bennet, Terrence, Michael "Mike" and David "Doc" (Nancy), all of Belcourt; 19 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; and 1 great great grandchild; brothers, Dalbert Brien and Edward "Chubby" (Joy) Brien; and sisters, Esther LaFontaine, Marie Arpan, and Patty (Ronnie) Allery, all of Belcourt; and many nieces and nephews.

Dallas was preceded in death by his wife, Theresa, his son, Mark, his grandson, Jon Paul, his parents, Bill and Rose Brien, brother, Reginald "Tiny" and Kenneth Brien, and sister, Ruthie Marcellais.

We Love You Dad.  Keep praying for us and we will keep trying to say our daily Rosaries and attending Holy Mass just like you did. +JMJ+

A visitation will begin 3:00 PM on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Belcourt, ND with a Rosary Service at 7:00 PM.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, March 7, 2025 at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Belcourt, ND. Father Michael Slovak presiding. Burial will be held in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery, Belcourt, ND in the spring.

Elick Funeral Home, Rolla, ND.