Billy Brown: Inside The Alaskan Bush People's Patriarch's Relationship With His Kids

The Brown family, the outdoor enthusiasts at the heart of Alaskan Bush People on Discovery, have experienced a crushing loss. The head of the family, 68-year-old Billy Bush, has died after experiencing a seizure. The family announced his passing in a statement shared by sons Bear and Noah Brown on Instagram.

"We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved patriarch Billy Brown passed away last night after suffering from a seizure. He was our best friend — a wonderful and loving dad, granddad and husband and he will be dearly missed," the statement reads. "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."

The Brown family is surely feeling the heartbreak of this sudden loss. For a tight-knit family like the Browns, it can be incredibly challenging.

Bear's heartfelt post included a photo of Billy Brown holding his grandson, River Anthony Billy Isaiah Brown (via Discovery). Giving his son his father's name as one of his own, shows just how close father and son, Billy and Bear, were. But all of Billy's seven children enjoyed close relationships with their dad. Each of them had a unique bond, but it was clear they all had a connection, even in their hardest times.

Rainy Brown shared her own feelings in an Instagram tribute to her father. "I lost a true friend. Not forever, but only in this world," Billy's 18-year-old youngest child wrote. "Please hold my family in your thoughts and prayers, especially my mother. Please hold your family tight for me. Words cannot express how wonderful he was and is. But I will say, the closest thing to an angel I've ever known. God bless you dad. I love and miss you dearly. You will always be my hero. God bless everyone."