Brown, Veneda Maxine (Ramlo) 1920 - 2014

BROWN, RAMLO, BAKKEN, VARNE, MELROSE, LEE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/5/2014 at 14:30:46

Veneda Maxine (Ramlo) Brown passed Nov. 6, 2014, just shy of her 94th birthday. Services are Dec. 12, 2014. She will join her husband, Robert, in the National Cemetery at Fort Rosecranz, Point Loma, Calif. In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a donation, she would have preferred you donate to the charity of your choice.

Veneda (“Toni”) was born the elder to her twin brother, Earl, on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1920, in Winneshiek County. Veneda and her family lived on the family farm outside of Decorah which had been established by her grandfather Halvor Ramlo. Her parents were Betsy Olena (Bakken) and Clarence Ramlo. Veneda took a normal school education course allowing her to teach in a small one room county schoolhouse. She married Robert H. Brown in Corpus Christi, Texas in March 1945. Robert later retired as a 20-year Marine Corps veteran. After his death in 1962 Veneda completed her college degree, received a California teaching credential, and earned a master’s degree in education. After teaching for one year in the Orange County School District she was promoted to head teacher, equivalent to being principal. She continued to work for a total of 22 years with the developmentally handicapped and retired from the Orange County School District in August 1987. She kept with her hobbies of gardening and quilting until the end of her life. She enjoyed traveling to various states and countries with her family. She was proud to earn the title of “oldest lady” on her block (E. Avalon Avenue, Santa Ana).

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert H. Brown; her brothers Orvin and Earl; and her sister, Phylis; and by her two sons, Garry and Rex.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda (Brown) Carne; grandchildren: Lisa Carne, Maria (and Chris) Lee and Sam (and Elaine) Carne, Brittany Brown and Vanessa (Brown) Melrose; great-granddaughters: Lillian and Courtney Lee, Becky Sue and Ginnie Carne; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Source: Decorah Newspapers November 25, 2014