Delmer LeRoy Brown was born on May 3, 1938, to Elmer and Elfrieda Brown in Lexington Nebraska. Delmer graduated from Custer High School in 1955. He received a Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering in 1959, from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and a Masters of Sciences in Geological Engineering in 1962, from the Colorado School of Mines and Technology. While a student at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Delmer explored and mapped a number of Black Hills caves. Together with a large team including his father, a new passageway was discovered, opened and mapped in the Jewel Cave National Monument.

Delmer served in the United States Army, Corps of Engineers, taking basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska where he served as commanding officer of the 48th Engineering and Maintenance Company.

Following the Good Friday earthquake in 1964, Delmer was re-assigned to the Pacific Theater command to investigate the effects of the tidal waves (tsunamis) associated with the earthquake throughout the various islands of Alaska and along the Pacific Coast. After completing these field investigations, he spent time at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, CA, where he coordinated his field studies with laboratory studies being conducted by the Institute.

After military service Delmer devoted his life to geological engineering, exploration and gemology. He traveled to over 50 countries during his 44 year career.

In 2004, Delmer moved from Lakewood Colorado to Custer, S.D. where he could tend to the health needs of his aging parents. During this time, Delmer built his dream home, enjoyed his pond, gardening, photography, western mining history, and Black Hills history. Delmer volunteered at the Custer Senior Center, where he served as the senior center historian. Delmer also volunteered at the Custer County 1881 Courthouse Museum, where he enjoyed organizing historical pictures and articles.

Delmer died peacefully December 12, 2016, at Custer Regional Senior Care in Custer following his battle with leukemia. Delmer was 78.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Elfrieda Brown, and sister, Kathleen Scott (Gerald).

He is survived by his brother, Dennis (Betty) Brown of Florida; Brother-in-law, Gerald Scott, of Custer, S.D.; and a number of special nieces and nephews.

In Delmer's final days he spoke often of the special friendship and support given to him by Jill Kettle. Jill is the manager at the Custer Senior Center. Delmer wanted to express his thanks and gratitude for her love, caring, support and friendship.

Services will be held at the Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church, in Custer, S.D. on Saturday, December 17, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., with internment to follow at the Custer City Cemetery. A viewing will be held 1 hour prior to the services.

Immediately following internment, a social celebration of Delmer's life will be held at the Custer Senior Center in Custer, South Dakota.

In lieu of flowers Delmer requested that donations be made to the Delmer Brown Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund through Highmark Federal Credit Union in Custer, South Dakota. This fund will be used to help Custer students advance in their pursuits of advanced education in science and medicine.