BROWN, Berton A. 1929-2009

BROWN

Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 8/16/2009 at 22:56:09

MANLY - Berton Allen Brown, 80, of Manly, died Wednesday (August 12, 2009) at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

A funeral service for Berton will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at the Old Stone United Methodist Church, 1 Jackson Street West, Rock Falls, with the Rev. Wendy Johannesen and the Rev. Jim Turner officiating. Burial will be in the Rock Falls Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, at the Bride Colonial Chapel, 110 East Spring Street, Manly. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service time on Tuesday at the church.

The family has suggested that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to give a memorial in Berton's memory, may wish to consider contributions to Hospice of North Iowa or to the Dialysis Unit at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Berton Allen Brown was born on Jan. 30, 1929, in Mason City, the son of Theodore and Marjorie (Morse-Brown) Kimbley. He attended school in Rock Falls and graduated from Idaho Springs, Colo., High School in 1948. Berton enlisted into the U.S. Air Force and served his country honorably until his discharge.

Berton was united in marriage to Betty Kittleman on Sept. 2, 1951, in Cadillac, Mich. After their marriage, Berton worked for the Iowa State Highway Commission in Mason City until 1958. Berton attended Barber College in Denver, Colo. before moving to Prescott, Wis., in 1965 where he owned and operated his own barbershop until selling it in 1985. Berton then became employed by True Value Hardware Store in Hastings, Minn., and retired at the age of 63. Berton also built several homes during his life.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, and tinkering. He was a member of the Old Stone United Methodist Church in Rock Falls.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife; Betty Brown, of Manly; his children; Lori Sandvig of Prescott, Wis., Steve Brown, and special friend, Diane LaRue, of Prescott, Wis., Michael Brown, and his wife, Delene, of River Falls, Wis., and Timothy Brown, and his fiance�, Erin Westby, of Menomonie, Wis.; his grandchildren, Nathan, Jason, and Aric Sandvig, Paul, Joseph Berton, Matthew, Cody Allen, and Samantha Brown; his brother, Stanley Brown, and his wife, Glenita, of Rock Falls; his sister, Marjorie Rippentrop, and her husband, Nyle, of Rock Falls; and other extended family members and friends, including his dog Sparkey.

He was preceded in death by his parents, step-father, Hurley Kimbley; son-in-law, Mark Sandvig; a granddaughter, Jennifer Sandvig; his brother, Bob Brown; and his beloved dog, Buster.

The family would like to express their appreciation and a special thanks to all who gave Berton such special care during his life.
Bride Colonial Chapel, 641-454-2242.
www.colonialchapels.com

Published in the Globe Gazette online, 8/16/2009