Robert Brown, age 88, of Deer Creek, passed away on January 12, 2025, at Astera Health in Wadena. Funeral Services were held on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Deer Creek officiated by Pastor Donald Wagner. Congregational hymns were accompanied by Linnea Gray. Military Honors were provided by Deer Creek American Legion Post #283, and the United States Army National Guard of Grand Forks, N.D. Robert was laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery, Deer Creek.

Robert Joseph Brown was born to Ernest and Hazel (Fuller) Brown on May 18, 1936, at home in Spruce Grove Township, rural Butler.

Robert grew up in Butler and was confirmed at Corliss Lutheran Church in May of 1953. He attended District 52 Country School and in 1958 he enlisted in the US Army where he served until 1961. During his time in the United States Army, he attended Basic Training at Fort Carlson in Colorado and Fort Lenord in Missouri and spent two years in Germany. Robert was discharged from Fort Bragg, North Carolina on July 7, 1961.

Robert married Linda Helmrichs at Trinity Lutheran Church in Deer Creek on July 29, 1961. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Brenda and Joseph.

Robert was employed as a cement mason in Brainerd, Minn. before he and Linda purchased a farm in Deer Creek in 1972. They moved to their farm in June of 1973 and milked cows for 30 years until 2003 when Robert retired to crop farming.

Robert enjoyed deer hunting and restoring tractors – especially little gray Fords. He belonged to the Union Local 15 Brainerd and the Deer Creek Lions for a few years.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Hazel Brown; in-laws, Raymond and Dorothy Helmrichs; sister, Doris Beach; and brothers-in-law, Gerald Beach and Fred Miller.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Linda of Deer Creek, daughter Brenda (David) Hoffman of Lebonan, Ore., and son Joseph of Deer Creek; grandchildren Bobbi Jo (Dan) Brown, David (Nicki) Brown, Nicholas Beach and Desirae Hoffman; great-grandchildren Tyler David Brown and Levi Richard Brown; sister, Ruth Miller of Wadena; brothers, Ernest Brown Jr. of Staples and Lyle Brown of Menahga; many other relatives and a host of friends.

Please visit www.karvonenfuneralhome.com to leave memorials and condolences on Robert’s Tribute Wall.

Arrangements provided by Karvonen Funeral & Cremation Service of Wadena.