Loretta M Brown

(as told in part to Bob by Loretta)

My parents, Louis Riga & Helen Cletus (Cleta) Frangenberg were married in Jan, 1927. I was the first of five children and came along on Feb. 14, 1928. My folks lived in a log cabin where Grandpa & Grandma Frangenberg lived until the new house was built in Pocahontas, Arkansas.

We moved to a farm 10 miles south of Dodge City, Kansas, where we lived until I started school. My brothers Jim (Gerald), Robert (Bobby) and Louis Benjamin were born on that farm. After that, we moved to town (Dodge) during the school year and back to the farm during the summer. My sister Peggy was born in Dodge the year I was in the first grade. I remember a bad dust storm happened during that year. There were a lot of deaths during the years of the dust storms. I can’t remember how many years the dust storms lasted, I just know they were terrible. Mother would wet sheets to hang over the windows and doors.

During my third grade year my brother Jim came down with pneumonia and was in the hospital 3 months. During the time he was in the hospital Jr. came down with pneumonia but his wasn’t so bad. When Lou was over his, Dr. Dowler brought him home and found Bob sick and took him to the hospital. While they were gone, Jr. decided to play Dr. and gave Peggy an overdose of his medicine. They had to rush her to the hospital to pump her stomach. The only way I got to stay in the hospital was because Peg wouldn’t stay unless I stayed with her.

The house had an extended 2nd floor with parking underneath. Above that was a window seat. Anyhow, later that same year, Jr. was playing in the window and fell through the screen. He ended up in the hospital with a fractured skull. When they brought him home they put him in Peggy’s baby bed and packed him in sand bags so he couldn’t move. Also during the time we lived there, mother would make pot holders, donuts, and anything she could think of for us to take from door to door to sell.

The following was completed by Loretta's loving husband and children.

Loretta passed on January 16, 2013.

(I, Bob Brown-Loretta's husband am filling in the balance of her life with the memories I have.)

In 1941, Loretta, with her parents & brothers & sister moved to Wichita. She attended St. Patrick’s Church and school at original school & church in 2000 block on north Wellington. She graduated eighth grade in 1942, later they moved to a home on south Lulu.

During the war, her mom went to work at an aircraft factory. Loretta stepped up and filled in with getting the younger siblings off to school, doing laundry and numerous other things that it took to run a household.

She attended Cathedral High School. At the age of 17 her mother took her out of school and put her in beauty school. She attended Venus Academy of Beauty Culture and graduated on the 15th day of June, 1945. Her first position was across from St. Francis Hospital. It had both barber & beauty shops.

On or about 1946 Loretta & Bob had a blind date. Loretta’s brother Jerry was going with Bob’s sister Virginia. Jerry didn’t have a car so Bob used his brother (Leonard’s) car and went to a football game in Newton, Ks. North was playing Newton, the weather was bad, raining. Running back to the car Loretta fell and ripped her slacks. The next day I called her and offered to buy her a new pair. (don’t think I did).

We dated while I was home on leave a couple times and wrote quite often. On my last leave before getting out of service, I asked Loretta to marry me. After a short time she said yes. At that time she was working in beauty shop called Beauty Bazaar, 1812 North Broadway. She had a chance to buy the shop and I loaned her $500.00 to buy the shop (I always said I had to marry her to get my money back- but everyone said that was the best money I ever spent).

We were married on April 3, 1948 at the church on Wellington. We lived in a small apartment behind the beauty shop for about 2 years and had most of our meals at Charlie’s restaurant next door or Loretta or Bob’s parents. We did some cooking but not much.

In late 1949 we purchased a home at 1933 Fairview. Loretta put a beauty shop in the front bedroom – Richard was born in Dec., 1950. We lived there several years. All the children were born while living on Fairview with the exception of Donna. We then purchased a home at 2027 N. Waco.

The children all attended St. Patrick’s school at the new location in 2000 block of Arkansas. They could walk to school except in bad weather, Loretta would take and pick up the children from school. When Loretta couldn’t Aunt Peggy (Loretta's sister) would swing by. Loretta put a beauty shop in the basement of our home. At all times she was able to be at home when the children got out of school.

She had a large library of books in her beauty shop. She would let ladies take home and bring back books. It was just like a miniature library with a check out card in each book. Mom loved to read and shared that love with friends and family.

Another thing that mom loved was crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. In her spare time she was always reading or doing puzzles and crocheting hangars for everyone. She was also part of the altar society at St. Patrick’s and helped with donuts and coffee on Sunday mornings after Mass. She was also a den mother for the Cub Scouts.

She had a green thumb. The glass enclosed back porch was full of cactus, aloe vera and various greenery. The front raised garden was full of hens and chicks. The south side of the house was also full of flowers, plants and a beautiful lilac bush. Along with the south side of the property having a rose bush and lilacs, anywhere in the house that would have good sunlight there were plants, including the landing going up to the second floor and hanging plants along the stairway going up to that landing. Numerous starts were sought and shared from that garden.

Loretta & I brought up the 6 children and they all turned out to be great adults with great children of their own.

While the children were young, we traveled to Port Aransas, Texas to stay with my brother Leonard. The children would play on the beach and had a great time. In our later years we traveled some. In 1992 we drove to California and to Washington State. Took a boat to Canada and spent the night. We visited the Butchart Gardens. In 1996 Sept.6-11 took a riverboat on the Mississippi River. March 20-26, Natchez spring pilgrimage. Dec.27 to Jan. 6 2003 we went to Rose Bowl Parade and watched from bleachers (a lot better on t/v). We stopped at Las Vegas on the way back. On this trip went to the Crystal Cathedral. A wonderful pageant, the glory of Christmas was in Anaheim, Ca. Also this trip we visited Havasu city, Az., the London Bridge, a wonderful rebuilt landmark. We took several other trips but our best was on our 50th wedding anniversary. It was a 29 day bus trip to Alaska. We traveled up through the states – then through Canada, then up the Alcon highway. On the return trip from Alaska we took a cruise ship on the Inland Passage and stopped at several ports. On one stop we took a sea plane and went above the glaciers. It was quite a view! Arrived in Canada and took Village bus back to states. We also had several other trips on Village Tours.

Loretta retired from her beauty shop in 2006 after 60 years as a beautician.

We moved from our home at 2027 N. Waco to Maple Gardens Apartments. We were there about 2 years before she was forced to go into Haysville health care center because of her health. I rented a twin home nearby-walking distance – Lee moved in with me. I had breakfast, lunch and sometimes supper with her. Most times Lee had supper with her. Donna had breakfast on Saturdays. Rick had dinners sometimes and Ruth, Debby and Kerry shared meals at times. Debby and Rick bringing the great grandchildren for visits was always a highlight for mom. Kerry did mom’s hair for years. Donna proved a great back-up in doing mom’s hair. Donna was also the brave one to cut mom’s hair. All the children helped keep mom’s spirits up and needs taken care of. She passed away on Jan.16, 2013. She had a wonderful life- raised a wonderful family with the children –grandchildren and great grandchildren. Miss my wife and best friend greatly but will have her in my thoughts and heart the rest of my life.

Loving husband & best friend

Robert (Bob) Brown

Mom was always there for us, in good times and bad. She was very close to her faith and shared that with her children always. We love you and miss you mom and are glad we were able to have you with us for such a long time.

Your loving children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

* * * * * * * * * *

Loretta M, Brown (Riga), (Our Special Valentine) born Feb. 14, 1928, in a Log Cabin in Pocohontas, Arkansas. Married Robert M. Brown April 3, 1948 in the old St. Patrick Church on Wellington Place by Monsignor Green. Volunteered at St. Patrick School: Cub Scouts, 8th grade, and Library all while running a successful beauty salon out of her home for 60 yrs, while raising 6 children. Loretta went home to be with our Lord on January 16, 2013 to celebrate her birthday with her sister Peggy Rohling. She will also be joining her parents, Louis B. and Helen C. (Frangenberg) Riga, brother, Robert Eugene. Survived by: husband Robert, brothers, Gerald (Babe) Riga, Lou (Jenny) Riga, Sister-in-law, Virginia Stutzman, and brother-in-law, Nobert Rohling. Sons, Rick (JoAnn) Brown; Lee Brown, daughters, Ruth Zumbrunn; Debora (Gary) Cook; Kerry (Calvin) Dodson; Donna (Rick) Newman. Grandchildren, Joshua (Tiffany) Cook, Christine (Charlie) Kissling, Kenny Brown, Karl (Laura) Brown, Stacey (Kyle) Deschamps, Kate Zumbrunn, Samual Brown, Benjamin (Amanda) Brown, Andrea Brogan, Zach Brown, Kyle Dodson, Cory Dodson, Justin Newman, and Julie Newman. great- grandchildren, Clare, Elizabeth, Peter, Blaise, and George Kissling, Rhiley and Dominyck Cook, Zavier, Angel, & David Brogan, Lucas Brown, many cousins, nieces and nephews. Rosary will be held 7p.m. Sunday, January 20, 2013. Funeral Mass will be held 10:00a.m. Monday, January 21, 2013 all at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials can be sent to St. Patrick’s Church or The Lord's Diner.