He died unexpectedly following a seizure earlier this month at age 68.
And Alaskan Bush People is set to air a tribute to the show’s late patriarch Billy Brown on Sunday that features never-before-seen footage of him and his family.
In a clip shared Friday, Billy has a heartwarming conversation with his oldest daughter Snowbird Brown to mark her birthday.
Saying goodbye: The Discovery Channel shared a new clip from a tribute episode airing Sunday in honor of Alaskan Bush People’s late patriarch Billy Brown, who died February 7 of a seizure
The new clip opens with Billy meeting up with his daughter, who’s hard at work in a tent and has black grease smeared across her face.
‘It’s fall, it’s heading into winter, so that means your birthday is coming,’ he says with a dramatic flair.
In a later confessional, Birdy places her father within her reverence for nature.
‘The part of being in the bush and being with the animals and in the woods is like, dad is a part of that,’ she says affectionately.
Happy birthday: The new clip opens with Billy meeting up with his daughter to off her a birthday present
Becoming an adult: ‘It’s fall, it’s heading into winter, so that means your birthday is coming,’ he says with a dramatic flair
Loving family: ‘The part of being in the bush and being with the animals and in the woods is like, dad is a part of that,’ his daughter Snowbird says affectionately
‘I’ve carried this in my pocket for almost 30 years,’ Billy continues as he pulls out a nondescript knife.
‘This thing has brought home meat when almost nothing would.’
He adds, ‘There’s a lot of brothers. There’s only one of you.’
In the later footage, Birdy explains how her father will always be part of her experience of the great outdoors.
‘None of us are what dad is. When I think of the bush, dad’s there. His laugh. He is part of the bush, when I think about it,’ she says.
Present: ‘I’ve carried this in my pocket for almost 30 years,’ Billy continues as he pulls out a nondescript knife
Remembering him: ‘None of us are what dad is. When I think of the bush, dad’s there. His laugh. He is part of the bush, when I think about it,’ Birdy says in confessional
In his own confessional moment, Billy explains his philosophy of parent succinctly.
‘I’ve tried to give them a basis of basically what they need and then I’ve backed up and left them alone,’ he says. ‘They don’t give up when they feel, they just keep doing it until they get it right. It’s been our philosophy our whole life for the guys.’
He and Birdy share a sweet hug at the end of the clip, before he tells her she’ll pass down the knife to one of her daughters someday.
On the move: Alaskan Bush People has aired on the Discovery Channel for 12 seasons since 2014, originating in Alaska before the family moved to Washington in later seasons
Alaskan Bush People has aired on the Discovery Channel for 12 seasons since 2014.
The series originally followed the self-sufficient Brown family as they roughed it up in Alaska, but the family moved down to Washington state in later seasons.
Billy died on February 7 after suffering a seizure.
‘We are devastated to hear of Billy Brown’s sudden passing. He has been part of the Discovery family for years — a trailblazer, a lovely man, and most definitely one of a kind,’ Discovery tweeted after his death. ‘Our heart is with his family and those that knew him and loved him as they deal with this devastating loss.’
Bear Brown, one of Billy’s sons, also paid tribute to him at the time on Instagram.
Saying goodbye: Billy’s son Bear paid tribute on Instagram after his death. ‘He was our best friend — a wonderful and loving dad, granddad and husband and he will be dearly missed’
‘We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved patriarch Billy Brown passed away last night after suffering from a seizure,’ he began.
‘He was our best friend — a wonderful and loving dad, granddad and husband and he will be dearly missed. He lived his life on his terms, off the grid and off the land and taught us to live like that as well.
‘We plan to honor his legacy going forward, and to continue with his dream. We ask for privacy and prayers during this painful time! God bless everyone!’