March 5, 1947 – February 10, 2026
Dana Brian died peacefully at home on February 10, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with the late effects of polio. She was born on March 5, 1947, in Okmulgee, and was a proud citizen of the Muscogee Creek Nation.
Dana was a naturally inquisitive child and a lifelong learner. A lover of music, art, history, literature and politics, Dana also loved exploring, experiencing and learning about all aspects of nature. Her mind was seldom at rest, always probing into whatever subject currently held her interest. She was a great conversationalist, able to talk about most any subject with knowledge and a wonderful dry sense of humor.
She graduated from Liberty School in Pumpkin Center. She went on to earn an undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Oklahoma State University. She then completed degrees in Public Health and Medicine at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine. She was one of three women in her class. She completed her residency in the fledgling field of Family Medicine at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. From the outset of her medical career, Dana was committed to providing compassionate care to those most in need. Early in her career she played an active role in the Women’s Health Movement in Chicago and Baltimore.
Dana was a commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service, and her career took her to Atlanta with the Centers for Disease Control, Mayo Clinic’s Epidemiology Department Rochester, Minn., Johns Hopkin’s in Baltimore. She moved to Minnesota and worked in Maplewood, Minn. Regions Hospital and for many years at United Family Medicine Residency Program in St. Paul, Minn. She taught many residents at United Hospital and worked for Ramsey County’s Health Care for the Homeless program. She helped develop dropin healthcare visits at the Jewish Community Center in St. Paul. She loved working with a group of Russian immigrants. Dana valued relationship- based medicine and took time with each of her patients. Dana retired after 45 years in healthcare.
She is survived by her dear friend and co-parent, Gabrielle Smith, daughter Anna Kurhajec (Amy Livingston), granddaughters Lucia Benjamin, Ida and Alice Kurhajec, sister Jill Holleman (Arthur) brother Michael Brian (Jawanna Wheeler), many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her daughter Hannah Goldstein, parents Shelley (Lucas) Brian and James Brian, brother James “Buck” Brian and nephew Lucas Holleman.
A special thanks to Allina Home Care, Allina Palliative Care & Hospice and Kari Tweiten Macdonald.
Services will be held at Roseville Memorial Chapel, located at 2245 N. Hamline Avenue in Roseville, Minn. on February 28, 2026. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a celebration of life at 11 a.m. All are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Minnesota Public Radio, PBS, Planned Parenthood or Doctors Without Borders in her memory.
