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In memory of

Marlene J. Brown

of Rapid City, South Dakota, formerly of Wall, South Dakota, died on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at her home in Rapid City, surrounded by her family and friends at the age of 70

Marlene J. VanVleck was born July 13, 1938, in Wall, South Dakota, the daughter of Gilbert “Skinny” and Pearl B. (Harden) VanVleck. She grew up and received her education in Wall, graduating from Wall High School in 1956.
Marlene was united in marriage to Jack Brown on September 23, 1957 in Wall; and to this union were born five children Valerie, Melanie, Stacy, Lori and Jason. After their marriage, they lived in Rapid City while Jack was in the Air Force, stationed at Ellsworth. After Jack’s honorable discharge from the Air Force, they moved to Pennsylvania. In 1960, they returned to Wall where Marlene worked at the Wall Drug Store and later was the librarian at the Wall Community Library for several years. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and served on numerous committees in many capacities.  Marlene was also Brownie Scout Leader, and a member of the Jayceettes. 
In April 2001, Marlene and Jack moved to Dakota Dunes, where they lived until moving to Rapid City in August 2008, where she has since resided.
Marlene was known as a “Domestic Goddess”, being proper and always put together. She enjoyed having lunch and book club with friends, reading books, bird watching, doll making, crocheting, and flower gardening. Her greatest joy was her kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Marlene fought cancer courageously and was an inspiration to her family.
Grateful for having shared her life include her husband Jack Brown of Rapid City; one son Jason Brown and his wife Kari of Shawnee, Kansas; three daughters Melanie Shull and her husband Wayne of Wall, Stacy White and her husband Wayne of Rapid City, and Lori (Brown) Strobel of Sioux Falls; nine grandchildren Ty White and his fiance Tanya Miller of Rapid City, Katie White-Sumner and her husband Adam of St. Paul, MN, Alexa White of Rapid City, Miranda Kitterman and her husband Bruce of Rapid City, Zach Shull and his wife Lane of Rapid City, Seth Shull of San Diego, Jennifer Emery of Wall, and Ayden and Makenah Brown of Shawnee, Kansas; four great-grandchildren Jackson, Maleah, and Rowan Kitterman, and Kamryn Shull; one brother Eugene VanVleck and his wife Donna of Piedmont; a son-in-law Tim Emery of Quanah, Texas; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Marlene was preceded in death by her parents Gilbert and Pearl (Harden) VanVleck; a daughter Valerie Emery on September 3, 2007; and a brother Richard VanVleck.
Closed-casket visitation was held 3-6 p.m. on Friday, March 6, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall.
Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 7, at the United Methodist Church in Wall, with Pastor Sheri Fadley and Pastor Kenneth Park officiating.
Private family interment was at the Wall Cemetery.
A memorial is established. 

FUNERAL SERVICES
Saturday, March 7, 2009 – 10:00 a.m.
United Methodist Church
Wall, South Dakota
CLERGY
Pastor Sheri Fadley 
Pastor Kenneth Park 
MUSIC
Carol Hahn - Pianist
Lane Shull - Vocalist
“Amazing Grace”
“How Great Thou Art”
Congregational Hymn
"Hymn of Promise"
USHERS
Dave Hahn - Paul Goldhammer
PALLBEARERS
Dave Custis - Joe Crawford
Ron Ochs - Bruce Kitterman
Adam Sumner - Ty White
Zach Shull - Seth Shull
PRIVATE FAMILY INTERMENT
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota

Closed-casket visitation: 3-6 p.m. on Friday, March 6, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall.
Funeral services: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 7, at the United Methodist Church in Wall.
Private Family Interment:  Wall Cemetery

  • We wish we could be there with all of you. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you.
    Love,
    Pat and Patty     ~ Pat & Patty Brown 109 W. Spruce St. Titusville, PA (3/3/2009)
  • Jack & Family,

    Thinking of all of you---Marlene was a truly special person. Such a happy, cheerful gal...and will not soon be forgotten.     ~ Dale & Barb Patterson Wall, SD (3/3/2009)
  • During this time of sadness find comfort and strength in the sympathy extended by your friends and loved ones.Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. ~ Don & Susie Mitchell,SD (3/3/2009)
  • May the Lord be with you during this time and always. You are in my thoughts and prayers. ~ Fawna Geigle Enid, OK (3/3/2009)
  • Melanie, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this sad time. She will be missed ~ Gloria (Mortensen) Whetstone Gillette, Wy (3/3/2009)
  • Jack and Family,
    I am thinking and praying for you all. Marlene was always so good to me. I will miss her.     ~ Loretta White-Sheffield Augusta, GA (3/3/2009)
  • Jack, Mel, Stacy, Lori and Jason,
    We are so sorry for the loss of Marlene. She was a kind and wonderful lady. Please know we are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers.     ~ Jem and Kelly Kjerstad Family Quinn, SD (3/3/2009)
  • Sorry to hear of your loss. It's been many years since I last saw Marlene, but remember her quite well during my years of growing up and living in Wall. My thoughts and prayers are with you. May God be with you! ~ Pam Eisenbraun-Blankenship Sioux Falls, SD (3/3/2009)
  • Jack, Melanie, Stacy, Lori & Jason,
    I was truly saddened to hear of Marlene's passing. She was such a nice person who will be missed. Our prayers are with you during this time.     ~ Jane & Steve (Carlbom) Arity Rapid Ctiy, SD (3/3/2009)
  • Melanie, Wayne, & family,
    We are so sorry for your loss. I can only imagine. You are all in our thoughts & prayers. Keep all the wonderful memories alive & you keep a part of her with you always. I did not know your Mom but I am sure you have all made her so proud. God bless you all as you go through this very difficult time.
    Thinking of you,
    Kieth & Deb & family     ~ Deb Smith Philip, SD (3/3/2009)
  • Im very sorry for your loss! Our prayers and may the many wonderful memories encourage you thru the tough times! ~ Shelia Trask Wasta SD (3/3/2009)
  • Melanie, Wayne, and family,

    We are thinking of you and you are in our prayers. God Bless all of you and we hope that your memories of your mom are full of love and happiness to help you can make it through the hard times. Love to all, Sanden, Elaine, and Kids     ~ Sanden & Elaine Simons Wall, SD 57790 (3/3/2009)
  • Jack and family,
    We are so sorry this had to happen. Out thoughts and prayers are with you. May God keep you all in His loving arms.     ~ Ken & Joan Renner Prescott, AZ (3/3/2009)
  • We are so sorry to hear of Marlene's death. Now she is at peace after such a long struggle. God bless all of you. You know you are in our prayers.
     ~ Bill and Thelma Blood 316 N. Martin St. Titusville. Pa. (3/3/2009)
  • Take comfort in knowing Marlene is happy and not in any pain. My sincere sympathy to the family. ~ Betty Bryan Rapid City (3/3/2009)
  • Jack & Family
    So Sorry to hear of your loss. We will keep you in our
    thoughts and prayers.     ~ Duane and Fran Whitehill Titusville, Pa (3/3/2009)
  • So sorry to hear about Marlene. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. God Bless. ~ Jim and Rita Haney Rapid City, SD (3/3/2009)
  • Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We wish we could be there. ~ Scott, Lori & Kegan Brown 45785 State Hwy 27, Titusville PA (3/3/2009)
  • We wish we could have been there. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. We watched the video and thought it was very nice, and very well done, it was so nice to see all the family photos. ~ Dan, Julie, Tyler, and Stephanie Cauvel 45314 State Hwy 27, Titusville, PA (3/3/2009)
  • To the Brown Family. Our love and prayers are with you. Sincerely Kit and Dennis Walsh ~ Dennis Walsh- Kit McEntee Puyallup , WA, Miami, FL (3/3/2009)
  • Brown Family,
    My heartfelt sympathy goes to all of you. It has been a long time since we have seen each other but was so sad to hear of Marlene's passing. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.     ~ Beth Maki (Stuchlik) Buckeye, AZ (3/3/2009)
  • Melanie, Wayne, and Jennifer, Our prayers and love are with you. Your Quanah family! ~ Van & Lynda Sparkman Quanah, TX (3/3/2009)
  • Jennifer and family, So sorry to hear about your loss, know that y'all are in our hearts and our prayers. ~ Torey Sparkman Quanah,TX (3/3/2009)
  • Having known and loved Valerie, I know that Mrs. Brown was a wonderful person by the way she raised Val. You're in our thoughts always, but especially now. God bless you all. ~ Robbie Hale Quanah, TX (3/3/2009)
  • Marlene was a great classmate and friend. My prayers are with you. ~ Luann Spence 623 W. Pine Av (3/3/2009)
  • Melanie and to all your family my heartfelt sympathy goes out to you. Marlene has done the easy part and has given her hand to God and has crossed over but we have the hard part and that is being left behind. You are in my thoughts and prayers
    ~ Delila Willuweit Hughes Hot Springs SD (3/3/2009)
  • We were so sorry to hear of your loss. It has been a few years since we had seen Marlene. She was a great lady,and always someone to relye on. Marlene, Valerie and Richard are waiting for all of us at our journies end. ~ Timothy and Gayle Van Vleck 13837 Trinidad Drive Victorville, California (3/3/2009)
  • May angles walk with you today and always. Our condolences ~ Lou & Betty Molli Tiusville, Pa (3/3/2009)