Lion Brian served in the Air Force and upon discharge obtained a BBA from the University of Alaska with a major in Accounting in 1976. He became a CPA in 1979. He moved to North Dakota in 1997 and obtained an MBA from the University of North Dakota in 2000. He currently operates his CPA firm with two offices in North Dakota, and one in Alaska. He has taught college classes, conducted training seminars and he has led continuing education courses throughout his career with an emphasis in "Organizational Management and Information Technology."

Lion Brian enjoys many hobbies and activities including folk dancing, mountain climbing, skiing, chess, cryptography, and book collecting. He is a nationally recognized Folk Dance Historian. He is long-time member of Mensa and has served as Loc Sec (President) of the North Dakota group since 2003.

Lion Brian lives north of McClusky with his wife who manages a ranch in addition to being editor of the McClusky Gazette and McLean County Journal newspapers. They have 12 children, 23 grandchildren and one great grandchild.