Elna L. Brown, 86
Elna Lorene Brown, 86, of Grafton, Iowa died on July 12, 2009 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn.
Elna was born in Elkton, Minn. on Oct. 5, 1922 to Hugo and Elisa (Buhs) Schwartz. She was baptized in to the Lutheran faith on Oct. 22, 1922 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dexter, Iowa. She reaffirmed her faith on May 5, 1934. Elna graduated from Elkton High School in 1941. She worked at Hormel Foods before she married Cal Brown from Carpenter, Iowa, on Dec. 27, 1945. They were married for 63 years. To this union they had two sons: Jerry and Larry. They farmed and lived in the Carpenter and Grafton area their entire married life.
Elna enjoyed spending time with friends, dancing, gardening, reading and baking. She loved her church and served the Lord as long as she was able. She was a wonderful wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandma and friend. She cherished her time with her family, especially the last year with her great-grandchildren.
Those left to cherish her memories are her husband of 63 years, Cal; son, Jerry (Sheila Hook), St. Ansgar; their children Sarah (fiancé Kevin Anderson), Denver; Waylon (Julie Rosenberg)  and their children, Reece and Elyse, St. Ansgar; Clint (Kristi Jensen) and their son, Colby, St. Ansgar; son, Larry, (life partner Jeanine Carlson) and his children, Erin, St. Cloud, Minn. and Amy (Linca) Scarlett, and their son, Linca II, New York; sisters-in-law, Ilene (Jess) Wilder, Beaver Creek, Ohio, Ruth (Brown) Rohr, St. Ansgar; numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, Herman and Elvina Brown; infant grandson, Eric; four sisters and their husbands, Arlene (Arnold) Hammermeister, Dorothy (Arthur) Anderson, all of Rose Creek, Minn., Margaret (Alvin) Anderson, Austin and Lillian (John) Levy, Algona, Iowa; sisters-in-law and their spouses, Hazel (John) D’Errecio, Verna (Harry) Reynolds all of San Bernadino, Calif.; and one brother-in-law, Harold Brown.
 Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2009 at Deer Creek Lutheran Church, Carpenter, with the Rev. Lance Kittleson officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, 207 S. School St., St. Ansgar. Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar is in charge of arrangements.