BROWN, Harry Edward Wilhelm 1890-1978

MOERKEY, BROWN, LAU

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 10/23/2009 at 12:18:50

Harry E. Brown Funeral Held
At Immanuel Lutheran

Funeral services for Harry E. Brown, 88, who died at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center October 4, (1978) were held Friday, October 6 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church here with the Reverend Norman Betke officiating.

Harry Edward Wilhelm Brown, son of Fred and Ottille (Moerkey) Brown, was born August 25, 1890 in Barton Township near Bolan. He was baptized and confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Chruch in Grafton, and attended Barton No. 1 country school.

He spent his young manhood on the farm, and later worked in St. Paul and Minneapolis as a street car conductor. He returned to St. Ansgar where he was employed as a miller at the old St. Ansgar Mills.

January 1, 1925 he married Crystal Lau. Four children were born to them: Kenneth, Ruth, Marilyn and Marjorie. He worked at the St. Ansgar Lumber Co. and St. Ansgar Elevator until 1950 when he moved to Minneapolis. There he was employed at the Nicholas Hotel until failing health forced him to retire.

He became a resident of the Monterey Nursing Home in Osseo, Minnesota in 1970, and in March of 1977 was transferred to the Good Samaritan Center here. Brown became a communicant member of Immanuel Lutheran Church here in March of 1977.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Crystal; one daughter, Mrs. Michael (Ruth) Matthiesen of Princeton, Minnesota; two sisters, Laura and Helena Crane; and four brothers: Henry, Emil, Herman and Walter.

Mr. Brown is survived by his son, Kenneth of Central Point, Oregon, two daughters, Mrs. Owen (Marjorie) Bristlin of Beaverton, Oregon, and Mrs. Walter (Marilyn) Marcks of St. Ansgar; one brother, Irvin of Northwood; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Burial was in Deer Creek Cemetery with Reverend Betke in charge of committal services.

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, 1978 – St. Ansgar Museum Collections)