OBITUARY FOR VERNIS IONE BROWN

Vernis Ione Brown (Engh), daughter of Albert and Mable ("Maxine") Engh, was born December 5, 1931, at Pine City, Minnesota. She passed away October 18, 2024 at the Custer Community Hospital in Custer, SD. She attended elementary school in the County – District #33. Graduated from Pine City High School in 1950 and worked as a nurse's aide at Fairview Hospital in St. Paul, MN.

Vernis married Reverend Roy S. Brown June 3, 1951. The Lord gave them ten children to love and care for; she was very proud of them. She served her Lord working alongside her husband in the ministry at: Pine City, MN; Paynesville, MN; Warroad, MN; Earl/Trego and Hayward, WI; Edgemont and Pringle, SD. Vernis was always at home when the children were growing up – then took a job as Assistant Cook and a bus driver for the Edgemont School District. Retired in 1992 and then joined Roy full time serving the Dupree and Eagle Butte UCC Churches until his stroke in 1997. Vernis took care of him for 5 ½ years until his death.

God provided us with a nice retirement home – always had people coming and going. A lot of hunters and fishermen have come through the doors known as the "Brown Motel" or "Hunting Lodge". Having extra folks for meals was the norm, Roy would come home from the church and say, "By the way, I have invited so and so for dinner" – a few more places were then set and a card table or two were put up.

Vernis wrote: "I had to learn to fish or be left at camp". We went fifteen times to Canada, once a year. We always had extra kids with us, when we went to Canada. She also wrote: "Still hold the record for the largest Lake Trout (5#). No one would help me bring it in – was down 50-60 feet – get it almost up and "zing" back down it would go – didn't get any sympathy. "It's your fish" – I made it – then the "praises" began."

A note from Vernis to you: "My life has been filled with so many blessings – I give God the praise. Till we meet again.  Love Vernis"

Vernis is survived by her sons Timothy Brown (Virginia) Pierre, SD; Mark Brown (Deanne) Edgemont, SD; Jonathan Brown (Lydia) Temple, TX; David Brown Edgemont, SD; Thad Brown (Tia) Ellsworth, IA; and daughters Rachel Lathrop (Vic) Ames, IA; Sharon Brown Folsom, CA; Pauline Trotter (Joseph) Edgemont, SD; and thirty grandchildren and forty-eight great grandchildren.

Vernis is preceded in death by her husband Roy Brown; sons Joel Brown and Titus Brown; and daughter-in-laws Deidra Brown and Holly Brown.

Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 26, 2024, at Edgemont United Church in Edgemont, SD with committal service following at Edgemont Cemetery in Edgemont, SD.

Memorials may be made to Edgemont United Church in Edgemont, SD.