How Kody and Janelle Decided on Garrison’s Burial Location

When Janelle and Kody Brown needed to choose a final resting place for their son Garrison Brown, they quickly came to a decision.

In an exclusive clip from this week’s episode of “Sister Wives” on TODAY.com, Janelle discusses the choice to bring her son’s ashes to Wyoming.

“The Browns have deep roots in Wyoming. Both Kody’s father and my mother are buried there, and I want to lay Garrison to rest next to my mom,” she shares.

Janelle, a mother of six, reflects on why Wyoming was significant to Garrison Brown.

“He was very much influenced by his experiences, like spending summers working at the ranch,” she notes.

Maddie Brown Brush, Janelle and Kody’s daughter, then adds her insights about the importance of the location for their family, who have lived in various states.

“Wyoming is probably the closest we have to roots. It feels like home. We used to spend every summer there, learning how to work on the ranch,” she explains.

Despite their differences, Janelle and Kody united in the belief that burying their son’s ashes near family was the best choice.

“Kody would say, ‘I just want to take him home,’ and I understood that,” she mentions in the clip.

The May 4 episode of “Sister Wives” depicted the Browns in the aftermath of Garrison’s passing, who tragically died by suicide at 25 in March 2024.

During the episode, Kody expressed his wish to have his son rest in Wyoming.

“I remember sitting there with Janelle, saying, ‘Hey, I really want to take my boy home.’ I suggested we go back to Wyoming and bury him next to grandma Sheryl,” he shared during a confessional. “We both felt it was the right choice.”

In her own interview, Janelle further discussed her decision to cremate Garrison, explaining that she knew “that’s what he wanted.”

“This allows us to plan the funeral for a more suitable time of year. We want to bury him in Wyoming, where many of our family members are laid to rest. He loved it there, so it seemed fitting. We can wait until summer when everyone can attend and we can celebrate him properly,” she said.

While the clip doesn’t directly mention their family history, Janelle’s mother, Sheryl Usher, was married to Kody’s father, William Winn Brown.

Janelle has previously talked about their complex roots on “Sister Wives,” noting that her mother first met William Winn Brown while trying to dissuade her from entering a polygamous marriage.

Instead, she came to embrace the lifestyle, marrying Kody’s father, who had multiple wives.

Sheryl Usher was the only family member of Janelle’s who attended her wedding to Kody.

“My mom was at the wedding because she came to save me from the polygamists and ended up marrying Kody’s dad three months before we got married,” Janelle recalled on the show. “So she was obviously supportive. However, the rest of my family was not, so they didn’t come.”