Brown, Bertsel 1903-1972

BROWN, BRISTOW, ROWE

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/25/2007 at 15:22:06

FARM AND COMMUNITY LEADER
BERTSEL BROWN IS DEAD AT 69

Bertsel Brown, 69, route 2, Merrill, retired farmer and community leader, died Tuesday (Oct. 17, 1972) at Sioux City St. Luke’s Medical Center after a long illness. He had been hospitalized since June 5.

Samuel Bertsel Brown was born Aug. 22, 1903, in Liberty township, Plymouth county, the son of the late Charles and Edith (Bristow) Brown. He and Ethel L. Rowe were married Feb. 18, 1926, at Adaville.

Mr. Brown was a lifelong resident of Plymouth County.

Funeral services will be Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Adaville United Methodist Church, rural Merrill, with Rev. J. L. Vallery officiating.

Burial will be in the Pleasant Valley cemetery, rural Merrill, under the direction of the Mauer funeral home, LeMars.

Masonic services will be held Thursday at 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Pallbearers, all nephews, will be Dean Rowe, William Timmins, Willis Harms, Eldon Bryant, Kenneth Brown, and Stanley Tindall.

Having been very active in community affairs, Mr. Brown was a member of the Adaville United Methodist Church, Giblem Masonic lodge 322, Commandry, Sioux City Shrine, White Shrine and Eastern Star.

He served on the board of Plymouth REA for over 30 years and was president from 1950-1972. He was a board member from 1950 to 1972 of the Northwest Iowa Power Co-op, serving as treasurer from 1952 to 1958 and as secretary from 1961 to 1972.

Mr. Brown also was on the board of directors of the First National Bank in LeMars and was president of the Plymouth County Farmer’s Mutual Insurance Co. from 1958 to 1972. He had been on the board since January 1938.

The well-known Merrill man also was a member of the Plymouth County Farm Bureau and on May 20, 1972, received the meritorious service award from Westmar College for community service.

Survivors are his wife, Ethel, of rural Merrill; a brother, Elmer, or rural Merrill and a sister, Mrs. Alice Bryant of rural Akron and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and three brothers including Nelson who died Oct. 1, 1972.

~source: LeMars Sentinel

Plymouth Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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