Spencer Browning

Spencer Browning  

June 16, 1943 – December 4, 2024

An all around Ketchum guy, Spence enjoyed numerous adventures throughout his life, some of which landed him in the hospital, but never kept him down for long. He sampled bull riding, motorcycle racing, army paratrooping, river running, heli-skiing, fast cars and strong whiskey. Loved it all. 

Born at the Fort Polk Army Base in DeRidder, Louisiana, to Roland and Dorothy Browning, Spence grew up in Ogden, Utah, where he developed a love of shooting and the outdoors.

As Spence would tell it, he arrived in Ketchum in the winter of 1966, and never got enough gas money to go home. He and Barbara Sears fell in love, married in 1968, and made a home in the Wood River Valley. Son Matt was born in 1972, making Spence a very proud Pop.

Spence was a ski instructor at Sun Valley for nearly 30 years, and an electrician in the summer months. He loved the mountains and was an avid outdoorsman - hunting, fishing, camping, skiing and more. Love of those activities took him around the world, and nearly killed him more than a couple times. We’re honestly pretty amazed he made it this long. He made many wonderful and lasting friendships in those loved activities and adventures.

He learned to shoot trap and skeet at age 9, and loved the sport his entire life. On most Sundays he could be found at his church of choice, either the Sun Valley or Ohio Gulch gun clubs. He and a steady group of close friends would regularly shoot trap, skeet, sporting clays, share stories and crack jokes at each other’s expense. Spence’s quick and witty sense of humor was strong until the end.

He was active as a father, leading Scouts, sponsoring little league, cheering hockey teams, helping with homework, creating unusual Halloween costumes, and showing Matt all the outdoors had to offer. Spence was Matt’s biggest fan, and supported Matt even when he might not have entirely deserved it.

After Matt moved away for college and career, Spence and Barb continued working until they could retire and travel together. In his later years Spence enjoyed reminiscing over the pictures of their excursions around the world. He especially enjoyed many years of fishing for salmon and trout in Alaska.

In the past couple of years, he settled in to enjoy his home, family and dogs. He always appreciated the flocks of birds at his feeders, the deer gathered at the back fence and the beautiful sunsets.

Spence is survived by his wife of 56 years Barbara, his son Matt Browning of Salt Lake City, brother Wally Browning of Fountain Valley, CA, in laws Roger and Carolyn Schwarz of Bellevue, WA, brothers in law Doug Sears of Ogden and Don Sears of Park City. And of course, many old friends.

No flowers, please. A Celebration of Life will be held when the weather warms, in a beautiful spot by a river or in the mountains – the kind of place Spence loved all his life.

Dear husband and dad – we will miss you terribly, but we understand your time had come, as it comes for each of us. Cancer won this final brief battle. Rest easy knowing you are cherished and greatly loved.

We recently discovered this old poem of his, which he asked to be added as a P.S. here:

"Death is a dream, like life, a beautiful dream, no more, no less. 

I think I will dream of trees, green trees. A mountain covered with fresh powder. 

A clear river. Ducks coming in at sunset.

To those of you I did not like, you can kiss my dead a-s.

To those of you I loved, and who cared for me – have a drink. Have one for me.

As I leave, I will hold you in my dreams."

- Spence Browning, November 1993