Donna M Brown

Donna Mae (Arndorfer) Brown was born October 6, 1930 at Corwith, Iowa to Henry Sr and Martha (Ludwig) Arndorfer. She graduated from Corwith High School in 1948 and Hamilton Business College (Mason City) in 1949. Donna and Gerald (Tony) Brown were married October 30, 1950 at St Benedict, IA. They farmed near Fenton before moving to Utica, MN in 1960 to farm. The couple moved to Lewiston in 1999. Gerald passed away on February 6, 2013.

Following her graduation from business school, Donna worked at the Kossuth County Courthouse for 2 years in Algona, Iowa. Her neat handwriting skills earned her the position of recording life events, property sales, etc in the county ledger. After the couple farmed in Iowa for 10 years, they decided to move to Minnesota to purchase their first farm. Gerald went in search of the right property, and Donna had only one requirement -- the house must have running water! Understandable with 6 children in tow. She enjoyed working in the fields, as well as other farming duties like milking cows and leading her kids in walking beans.

Along with growing their farming operation, they also had a seed-corn business where Donna handled the bookkeeping for 35 years. Former customers would reminisce with her about the homemade sandwiches and cookies she served during Pioneer seed-corn days. After Gerald passed, Donna kept busy by watching the MN Twins, working on puzzles, watching old Lawrence Welk episodes and enjoying family time (listening in to all the conversations around her). She is “family famous” for her delicious horn rolls, Special K bars and noodle hot dish.

Donna was an active member of St Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Lewiston and the St Charles Moose Lodge.

Survivors include eight children: Julia (Jerry Norman) Brown of Austin, TX, Janet (Larry) Kronebusch of Winona, Leo (Corrine) Brown of Elysian, Connie (Tom Busian) Brown of Inver Grove Heights, Linda (Ken) Haley of St Charles, Diana (Bob) Flury of Lakeville, Kristi (Mark) Ties of Scottsdale, AZ and Teresa (Mitch) Grossell of Lewiston, 25 grandchildren: Veronica & Erik; Michelle, Todd, Melissa, Angela & Joshua; Andrew, Emily, Martha & Laura; Keith, Megan & Samantha; Dana, Adam & Beau, Paige & Bryce; Justin, Nicholas, Maddie Jo, Samuel, Samantha & Skyler; 32 (and still growing) great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren, and a brother Richard (Dolores) Arndorfer of Bancroft, IA. She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter Mary, her parents, step-mother Helen, brothers Henry Jr, Jerome and Robert (Marilyn) and sisters Dolores (Charles) Nordstrom, Sharon (Dick) Lavrenz and Gloria (Howard) Wellendorf.

The Funeral Mass for Donna will be at noon on Saturday, Feb 21, at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Lewiston with Father Chinnappa Pothireddy officiating. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 10-12 noon.

Donna's family would like to thank the staff at St Charles Senior Living for their wonderful care of her the past few months.

Memorials are preferred in place of flowers to a charity of the donor's choice.

Blessed be her memory.

The services will be livestreamed and recorded to be watch virtually. Please follow the ink below.

https://together.oneroomstreaming.com/GBDEPM