Lillian Ruth Ione (Christensen) BRADY

BRADY, CHRISTENSEN, BROWN, WALTERS, BREDENBERG, LORENZEN, SPELLMEYER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/6/2016 at 17:09:41

February 5, 1902 ---- May 15, 2001

Lillian Brady died May 15, 2001 at the age of 99.

Lillian was preceded in death by her husband Delisle Brady, her parents and sisters Mildred Christensen, Clara Brown and Dorothy Walters. She is survived by her daughter, Ruthanne Bredenberg, Coon Rapids, granddaughter Robin Lorenzen and great-grandson Brady Lorenzen, St. Paul, and sister Jeanne Spellmeyer, Schaumburg, Ill.

Lillian Ruth Ione Brady was born Feb. 5, 1902, to Andrew and Johanna Christensen in Eagle Grove, Iowa. She graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1920 and continued her education at Mankato Business College. Lillian became assistant advertising manager at Lindeke-Werner Co. in St. Paul where she met her husband, Delisle Brady. They were married June 14, 1923, and were together for 65 years. The couple moved to Sleepy Eye, and then to Fairbault where D was the manager of the A.& P. store. Their only child, Ruthanne, was born in 1926 in Fairbault.

Shortly afterwards, they moved to Nashua, Iowa, where D was associated with Leuthold & Baumbach Clothing Store. In 1936, D and Lillian bought the clothing store renaming it D's Clothes Shop. They served the community for 40 years and dearly loved their town and its people.

Lillian and D were members of the Nashua Methodist Church, Worthy Matron and Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, and members of the Northeast Saddle Club. Lillian was also a member of the Isabella Club. In 1949, Lillian and D obtained 200 acres of woods with a log cabin, their beloved Wilderness Acres on Bear Lake near McGrath. They spent wonderful years there respecting and nurturing nature. This interest encouraged Lillian's desire to become an author. In her 60s she began writing books. Her two books, "Aise-ce-bon, a Raccoon" and "Saga of a Whitetail" were very successful, receiving several literary awards. In 1997 Lillian gave a copy of "Saga of a Whitetail" to every grade school child in the Isle schools. Lillian taught writing workshops at the University of Minnesota and was invited to many schools as Author in Residence. She also did radio and television appearances. Lillian was president of the Northern Chapter of National Pen Women in 1976.

After the death of D in 1988, Lillian moved to Coon Rapids to live with her daughter. In 1991, she suffered a severe stroke and became a resident of Twin Rivers Care Center in Anoka. Though faced with the inability to eat and speak, and reduced mobility, she was able to continue to enjoy her family, especially the birth of her great-grandson, Brady.

Mille Lacs Messenger - Isle, Minnesota
2001