Lois Brown

Lois Brown died on May 21, 2024 at Colonial Vista surrounded by family: David, Debbie, Sasha and Sonia.

Lois was born in her maternal grandmother’s home in Barnesville MN, Nov 6, 1933. Her family moved quite often, thus Lois attended 13 schools in 12 years. The family moved to the Philippines shortly after WWII where she attended high school. Her family was the first American family to arrive in the aftermath of that horrific war. The experience of being exposed face to face with the results of war was indeed eye-opening.

On one of the family vacations to the U.S. she met David at his church in Fergus Falls MN. After returning to the U. S., she graduated from High School in Minneapolis, MN. David and Lois were married in the church where they met in on Dec. 22, 195l.

After their marriage, Dave attended Seminary at Yankton School of Theology and Lois worked at radio station WNAX. They moved to Wakonda, SD, where Dave preached and was ordained. Their 3 children were born during these years. The family moved to Berkley, CA, to Ree Heights, SD and then to Huron, SD. During those years Lois spent her time as mother, homemaker, student, and “preacher's wife”.

Lois began taking college courses at Huron college, SD when the children were all in school. It took 9 years, but she graduated with honors in June of 1969.

She began her teaching career at a country school 18 miles north of Huron. There were 8 children in grades 1^st through 8^th. This was an enriching and also a challenging experience.

After 5 years the family moved to Ortonville where Lois taught in a fully main-streamed first grade classroom for another 5 years.

Dave & Lois moved to E. Wenatchee in 1975 where she taught Kindergarten and First grade classes at Lee and Kenroy schools. During these years she also mentored a number of student teachers. She and David both retired in 1996. After retirement they travelled extensively in their motor home throughout the US until 2012.

She had been active at Sunnyslope church where she served on many Boards and committees. Lois also taught the children at Sunnyslope for many years. She was a Hospice Volunteer, and a reader for visually handicapped persons with Samara’s readers.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Rev. David J. Brown, of E. Wenatchee; her children: Lynn Thomas of Ortonville, MN; Debbie and Samir Sleiman of E. Wenatchee; and Mike and Lisa Brown of Spokane, WA; her sisters: Nita (Bill) Whyte and Joy (Bob) Hartsock. In addition, she is survived by grandchildren: James (Stacy) and John (Kelsey) Thomas, Sasha and Sonia Sleiman, Amanda (Ron Melligan) Brown, David (Marika) and Mathew (Sarah) Brown: great-grandchildren: Finnegan, Korrigan and MacKeegan Thomas; Tucker and Shelby Thomas; Henley and Millie Brown.  

Lois was preceded in death by her parents: Ethel and Harvey Halvorson; her brother, Jim (Steve) Halvorson; and son-in-law, Ron Thomas.