Ruth Brown

R uth B rown, age 92, of Hershey, Nebraska, passed away at the Sutherland Care Center on October 31, 2021.

Ruth was born February 21, 1929, on a farm near Genoa, NE. She was the youngest of five children born to Swedish immigrants, John and Hilda Carlson. Ruth attended rural school near Genoa and went on to graduate from Genoa High School in 1945.

Ruth moved to Omaha in the fall of '45 to attend business school. After receiving her diploma she worked as a secretary in Omaha for a short time then moved to Seattle, WA, with her sister. Ruth worked for an insurance company for two years then, after saving enough money, she moved to Denver, CO, and worked for an attorney.

While in Denver Ruth met Thomas Brown, through his sister, Lucille, and the couple married on March 26, 1954. They settled on the Brown farm at Hershey and raised five children during their 62 years of marriage. In later years Ruth and Tom enjoyed being grandparents and would take the grandkids on trips when they were little.

Ruth was active in the Hershey community with the Garden Bells and Meadowlark Club and she and Tom were selected as Grand Marshals of the Hershey Fall Festival. Ruth was also a member of Maria Lutheran Church where she served on the church council and Ruth's Circle.

Ruth enjoyed gardening, playing Scrabble, solving crossword puzzles, crocheting, canning, baking, making jellies and every Christmas was celebrated with Lutefisk, a Swedish seafood stew. To her family she was a Master Chef!

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, and their sons, David and John Thomas; her parents, John and Hilda Carlson; siblings, Bob, Kermit and Vincent Carlson and Inge Cieloha; and brother-in-law, Bob Brown.

Ruth is survived by her children, Eric (Jackie) Brown and Scot (Susie) Brown, of Hershey and Amy (Steven) Fleecs, of Cortland; daughter-in-law, Tammy Brown, of Sutherland; brother-in-law, James (Kay) Brown, of Virginia; and sisters-in-law, Ruth Carlson, of Genoa and Della Brown, of Hershey.

Survivors also include her 10 grandchildren, Matthew (Rebecca) Fleecs, Amber (Brian) Cross, Rachel (Matt) Person, Jordan (Laura) Brown, Chelsea Brown, Erin (Kellen) Walker, Erica (Matthew) Holloway, Logan (Kelsey) Brown, Skyler Brown and Chloe Brown; 11 great-grandchildren and many other family.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at Maria Lutheran Church in Hershey. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery at Sutherland. Visitation will be Friday, November 12, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with family greeting from 4-6 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the church.