Ellen Marie Brown, 98, of Creston, formerly of Sanborn, was born at home near LuVerne, Iowa on June 4, 1926, to Ernest Meyer, Jr. and Mary (Hinz) Meyer. She went to be with her Savior in heaven February 1, 2025, at Creston Specialty Care. Funeral Services were February 24 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Creston with Pastor John Rutz officiating. Private burial will be at a later date at Graceland Cemetery in Creston.
Ellen Marie (Meyer) Brown, was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in LuVerne, and grew up on the farm amongst her large extended German family. Ellen fondly recalled farming with horses, caring for all of the livestock, pheasant hunting with her father, learning how to run a household from her mother, and playing school with her younger sister. She attended country and parochial schools, skipping third grade, and graduating from LuVerne High School in 1943. After a year at Hamilton Business College in Mason City, Iowa, she returned to Algona, Iowa working in the Kossuth County Auditor’s office and for the Ration Board and Office of Price Administration.
When World War II ended, “and the Boys Came Home,” Ellen remembered there being a dance, somewhere, every night of the week, usually “BYOB”. She met returning sailor Charlie Brown from Irvington, Iowa, and they were married August 22, 1948, at Zion in LuVerne, first living on the Brown Dairy at Algona, then moving to a farm north of LuVerne, as their family grew.
In 1958, they quit farming and moved to Sanborn, Iowa with their four boys (and expecting their fifth), where Charlie became a Surge Milking Machine dealer. In 1965, now having seven children, Charlie went to work for Vander Haag’s Inc. and the family stayed in Sanborn. Ellen was a homemaker until her youngest started school, then went to work, Wednesdays and Saturdays, as a checker at Kuiper’s grocery store in Sanborn. Her days were busy raising a family and attending every child’s activities, plus getting the whole brood to St. John’s Lutheran Church every Sunday, second pew from the front, right side, under the pulpit. She made sure the church was the main focus of the family. In 1974, she and Charlie moved to Creston, Iowa, purchasing the former Hart Acres on the west edge of town, renaming it Charlie Brown Auto. Ellen was the bookkeeper and occasional delivery driver until retirement, when the couple began spending winters in Arizona. She enjoyed ancestral history, a long morning walk, her plants and flowers, any televised sport, and splitting a beer with Charlie every night. Ellen took part in every activity at Trinity Lutheran Church, and loved being a volunteer at Greater Community Hospital. She left for us a note that said, “Our Family Is My Joy – attending our kids’ events, following the grandchildren as they grew into fine adults, and loving the great grandchildren as they joined the circle of love in this family!” Ellen lived a good, long and useful life, and she knew that her Redeemer lives!
Ellen was preceded in death by her husband in 2005, son Kelly in 2010; her parents and a stillborn brother; her sister Barbara and husband Jack Baker; sister-in-law Dolores Brown and brother-in-law, Gerald Brown.
Ellen is survived by her children: Terry (Judy), Lone Tree, Colo.; Randy (Darla), Sanborn; Mike, Aurora, Colo.; Dennis (Joy), Shannon City; Doug (Mary), Orient; and Lynn (Garry) Miller, Fontanelle; 17 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Donna Brown & Wilma (Craig) Loebig; brother-in-law Carl (Connie) Brown; and many nieces, nephews and friends. The family is grateful for the exemplary care provided for Ellen by Homestead Assisted Living, Creston Specialty Care and Care Initiatives Hospice.
Powers Funeral Home, Creston, Iowa was in charge of arrangements.