Dorothy "Becky" Jane Brown

After a long, ministry-minded life, Dorothy “Becky” Jane Brown, 89, five weeks prior to her 90th birthday, recently of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 13, 2017. In heaven, she joined her husband Bill, infant daughter Kathy, son-in-law Rev. Robert L. Williams, daughter Kathleen Brown Rust, her parents, Robert and Bessie Kouba, three brothers, Bob, Bill, and Don Kouba and many other loved ones. Following a cerebral stroke and several years of declining health and dementia, she died peacefully in her sleep while living in her daughter’s home, cared for by her daughters Gail and Karen.  Dorothy was born on August 16, 1927 in Cicero, Illinois to Robert and Bessie Kouba and was their only daughter of four children. Dorothy was the last living sibling by four years. On November 3, 1945, she married William Philip Brown in Chicago, Illinois and they were happily married for nearly 70 years and bore five children. They lived in Berwyn, Round Lake and Mt. Prospect, Illinois; New Orleans, Louisiana; Boca Raton and Belle Glade, Florida; 34 years in Texas, of which 29 years were in Temple, Texas. Temple is where she left many friends who showed them much love and compassion. She relocated to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, after the home going of her husband, William, a decorated 100% disabled World War II Veteran, on March 13, 2015. Dorothy, while raising four children, along with her husband, owned a drycleaners, three Christian bookstores and worked as a travelling sales representative for Palestine Products. At 52, she trained and became a Certified Nurse Assistant and worked for five years serving in that profession. Dorothy Brown was survived by daughters, Karen Brown Williams and Gail Brown Huggins, both of Minneapolis, Minnesota, son, William Philip Brown Jr. (Laurie) of Mauldin, South Carolina, eight grandchildren that called her “Nana”: Blair Huggins (Megan), Stephanie Williams O’Brien (Jonathan), Hillary Huggins McCauley (Justin), Rob Williams (Claire) and Brandon Huggins all of Minnesota; Emma Brown and Devin Brown, South Carolina; Ethan Brown (Amanda), North Carolina, as well as nine great grandchildren: Brielle, Carson, EllaAnne, Ava, Quinn, Carter, Aiden, Amos and Mabel and there are many other dear family and church members and friends. Dorothy was known for her love for the Lord Jesus, her family and Christian ministry   demonstrated by her prayer life and the many ministries that received Charitable Gift Annuities. She, along with her husband, committed to praying daily for each family member and list of friends, singing through a hymnal and reading through the Bible each year. In keeping with her life of generosity and desire to help others, Dorothy’s body has been donated to the Mayo Department of Anatomy for anatomical study. At the conclusion, her remains will be sent for interment to the Central Texas State Veteran’s Cemetery, in Killeen, where her husband was laid to rest. A service will be held at the church where she attended, Redeemer Covenant Church 7801 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445, Saturday, August 12 at 11:00 a.m. CDT. The service will be streamed live for those unable to attend. Contact Dorothy’s family for details. Dorothy’s granddaughter, Pastor Stephanie Williams O’Brien will officiate. There will be a visitation at the church prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. CDT Memorial donations may be made to: The Sheridan Story, a non-profit fighting child hunger, 2723 Patton Road, Roseville, MN 55113 www.thesheridanstory.com.