Virginia C. Brown

Virginia Claire Brown, 79, of rural Dalton, went home to heaven Monday, June 9, 2014.

She was born to Kenneth Sr. and Alice Dimke in Fergus Falls MN on May 28th 1935. She graduated high school in Fergus Falls in 1955. After high school, she worked briefly at the Otter Tail County courthouse before becoming a telephone switchboard operator at Northwestern Bell Telephone. As an operator, she knew the area code for any city in the US and her children would quiz her on it often. After her years at the phone company, Virginia spent some time as a caregiver. Being a caregiver was second nature to Virginia and she loved it. When Milton became ill, she retired to care for him full time at home until his death in 1999.

In recent years, she spent her time in her flower garden and tending her big yard. Feeding her chippies, birds and deer. She cherished her grandchildren and great grandchildren. So much so, she even got brave enough to FaceTime with them on occasion. She loved a lively late night game of Phase 10 with her grandkids too. It brought out the serious competitor in her everyone got the giggles.

Preceding Virginia in death, husband, Milton Brown; brothers, Kenneth Jr. and Lloyd Dimke; parents, Kenneth Sr. and Alice Dimke; niece, Kathy Srur.

Survivors include children: Nancy (Greg) White of St. Peter, Steve Brown of Dalton and Connie Schmidt of Fergus Falls; Grandchildren: Patty (Stu) Francis of Medina, Dan (Alicia) White of North Mankato, Liz (Justin) Mack of Apple Valley, Travis Brown of Monticello, Michael Brown of Devils Lake, Kendra Brown of Monticello, Joshua (Kayla) Schmidt of Minot, ND, Justine Schmidt of Fargo, ND and Hunter Norman of Fergus Falls; Great grandchildren: Isabel and Isaac Francis, Brayden White, Kaden White, Rylee and Olivia Brown, Jacianna Brown, Grace Schmidt and Addison Nelson; Sisters and brothers in law, Darlene (Lloyd) Dimke and Janice (Kenneth Jr) Dimke, Arlene (Otto) Hanson, Betty (Vic) Fuller, Jean Samuelson, Bea (Owen) Runningen, Lynn (Judy) Brown Dennis Brown, Jim (Lisa) Brown, Diana Burmeister, Barb Anderson. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and her best friend since they were three years old, Marlene Schiebe.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 12, 2014 with a 6:30 prayer service at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.
Home Going Celebration and Mass of Christian Burial: 11 a.m. Friday, June 13, 2014 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls.
Clergy: Father Alan Wielinski and Deacon Chuck Kampa
Interment: St. Otto’s Catholic Cemetery, Fergus Falls
Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.