Alva Brown

Alva M. Brown, age 95, of Litchfield, died on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at the Emmanuel Home in Litchfield. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 2:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City with Pastor Jean Smith officiating. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Arndahl Cemetery in Acton Township, Meeker County. Alva Martha Brown was born on January 19, 1914 in Lynn Township, Renville County, Minnesota to Peter and Ella (Dobberstein) Miller. She was baptized February 22, 1914 and confirmed at Friedens Lutheran Church on April 10, 1927 in Hutchinson. She grew up and received her education in Hutchinson, graduating from Hutchinson High School in 1932. After graduation Alva worked in the dental offices of Dr. B.F. and W. L. Sahr as a dental assistant for five years. Alva was united in marriage to R. Kenneth Brown of Grove City on May 12, 1940, at Friedens Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. They made their home on his farm near Grove City. This union was blessed with four children. As a homemaker, she enjoyed assisting on the farm and taking care of her children and grandchildren. Kenneth passed away in April of 1975. Their son Dennis took over the farm, while she continued to live there for six years. In 1981, Alva moved into Grove City. She enjoyed working at the school as a kitchen helper with the school lunch program. Alva retired in 1994, but continued to help several shut ins in their homes for a few years. She was a member of the hospital auxiliary and enjoyed working as a volunteer in the gift shop. Through the years she enjoyed the Bible Study group in church, teaching Sunday School at Arndahl and helping out with the youth programs in Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City. Alva also enjoyed embroidery work. Alva is survived by her children, Annette (and Virgil) Pehle of El Paso, TX, Leighton (and Elaine) Brown of Alexandria, Dennis (and Marcia) Brown of Grove City and Bonnie (and Mark) Westmiller of Hutchinson. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and sister-in-law Rosetta Miller of Hutchinson. She was preceded in death by her parents Peter and Ella Miller, husband R. Kenneth Brown, brother Eldred Miller and sister Helen Suran. Memorials to Augustana Homes and Trinity Lutheran Church are preferred in lieu of flowers.