Kenneth Laurance Brown

Kenneth Brown passed away Thursday, January 30, 2025 at Regions Hospital surrounded by his family at the age of 90.

Kenneth Laurance Brown was born April 4, 1934 in Pine City to Miland and Frances (Karas) Brown. He attended a one room school in rural Pine City and moved to St Paul in 1949 where he went to Monroe High School graduating in 1953. During high school he joined the Air Force National Guard; he also worked at a bowling alley setting bowling pins, Ford Motor in St Paul and Swift Meat Packing Co in South St Paul.

Ken met Rita Stemper at a party and said “it was love at first sight”. Ken and Rita were married May 15, 1954. They celebrated 70 years together! Ken and Rita moved to Pine City and bought a farm east of town. They raised their family, milked cows and had a business selling dairy equipment, grain bins and seed corn.

The cows were sold in 2001 and Ken went into crop farming. The farm was sold to son, Douglas and his wife Colleen. The families started Brown-Johnson Farms with daughter Sandy and her husband Dick. Later son Bruce and his wife Heidi joined the business. Now grandson Bill has joined the farming operation. Ken truly enjoyed farming and keeping up on what was happening with everything on the farm.

Over the years he enjoyed bowling, sponsoring a team for a league. Ken and Rita were part of a neighborhood card club; playing 500. They also enjoyed traveling, visiting son Greg and his wife Sherry when they were stationed in Germany and at different bases in the US. They took several cruises and bus trips and spent some winters in Florida attending Twins spring training games.

Ken is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Rita Brown of Pine City; children Sandy (Dick) Johnson of Pine City, Jackie Brown of Coon Rapids, Doug (Colleen) Brown of Pine City, Brad (Brenda) Brown of Finlayson, Bruce (Heidi) Brown of Pine City; daughter-in-law Sherry Brown of Olympia, Washington; many grandchildren, great grandchildren, other relatives and friends. 

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; sons Gregory Brown, infant Ronald Brown.

Deacon Gene Biever will officiate services for Ken: 11 AM; Tuesday, February 4th at Swanson Funeral Chapel. A time of visitation and reviewal Monday (2/3) from 4-7:00 PM and one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place in Hilltop Cemetery in Pine City.

Funeral arrangements for Kenneth Brown are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City ~ Swanson Chapel 

www.FuneralAndCremationService.com