Leonard “Len” Brown, age 89, of Baxter, MN passed away December 14, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd. A Celebration of Len’s Life will be held at Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church, 5878 Pine Beach Rd (Cty Rd 77), Brainerd on Friday, December 29, 2023 at 11:00AM. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church. Pastor David Franz will officiate. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd.
Len, the youngest of six children was born on September 23, 1934 to Ed and Andria (Halvorson) Brown of Remer, MN. After graduating from Remer High School in 1952, Len enlisted in the United States Air Force and served four years until his honorable discharge. He started his college education at Augsburg College and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1960. On August 2, 1958, he married Mavis Danielson in Fargo, ND. In 1968 and 1970 they were blessed with two children, Suzanne Marie and Paul Eric. Following graduation, he began his accounting career as a CPA with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. (now KPMG). From 1968 to 1976 Len was COO of First Federal Savings and Loan of LaCrosse, WI. He returned to KPMG in Minneapolis, where he was promoted to partner in 1977. Len continued in that capacity until his retirement in 1988. In 1989, the family moved from Bloomington, MN, and spent their retirement years in Baxter, MN; Buffalo, MN; Phoenix, AZ; and back to Baxter, MN.
In addition to his professional and community responsibilities, Len’s family always came first. He was a loving and dedicated husband and a wonderful father. Len always stressed the importance of family quality time and made it a priority to take long family vacations and many camping and ski trips each year. He was a member of Good Shepherd, loved to golf and to find the best restaurants wherever he traveled. No matter where he was someone would say something that instantly reminded Len of a great Ole and Lena joke. He loved Lutefisk and one year Len attended 13 Lutefisk dinners. His generosity, advice and sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him well.
Len is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mavis; daughter, Suzanne (Mark) Martin of Pensecola, FL; son, Paul (Jodi) Brown of Staples; three granddaughters, Erika Martin of Pensecola, FL, Brianna (Tim) Presler of East Grand Forks, Kendra (Andrew) Grimes of Richland, MI; six great-grandchildren, Peyton, Paxton, and Charlotte Presler; Nora, AJ, and Luke Grimes. He is also survived by his brother, Marvin (Ruth) Brown; and many nieces, nephews, and distant relatives.
Len was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Gordon (Julia), Howard (Leoris), Orval (Blanche); and sister, Doris (Lloyd) Kentoph.
Memorials are preferred to Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church.
To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Leonard "Len" E Brown hosted by Nelson-Doran Funeral Home.
Leonard “Len” Brown, age 89, of Baxter, MN passed away December 14, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd. A Celebration of Len’s Life will be held at Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church, 5878 Pine Beach Rd (Cty Rd 77), Brainerd on Friday, December 29, 2023 at 11:00AM. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church. Pastor David Franz will officiate. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd.
Len, the youngest of six children was born on September 23, 1934 to Ed and Andria (Halvorson) Brown of Remer, MN. After graduating from Remer High School in 1952, Len enlisted in the United States Air Force and served four years until his honorable discharge. He started his college education at Augsburg College and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1960. On August 2, 1958, he married Mavis Danielson in Fargo, ND. In 1968 and 1970 they were blessed with two children, Suzanne Marie and Paul Eric. Following graduation, he began his accounting career as a CPA with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. (now KPMG). From 1968 to 1976 Len was COO of First Federal Savings and Loan of LaCrosse, WI. He returned to KPMG in Minneapolis, where he was promoted to partner in 1977. Len continued in that capacity until his retirement in 1988. In 1989, the family moved from Bloomington, MN, and spent their retirement years in Baxter, MN; Buffalo, MN; Phoenix, AZ; and back to Baxter, MN.
In addition to his professional and community responsibilities, Len’s family always came first. He was a loving and dedicated husband and a wonderful father. Len always stressed the importance of family quality time and made it a priority to take long family vacations and many camping and ski trips each year. He was a member of Good Shepherd, loved to golf and to find the best restaurants wherever he traveled. No matter where he was someone would say something that instantly reminded Len of a great Ole and Lena joke. He loved Lutefisk and one year Len attended 13 Lutefisk dinners. His generosity, advice and sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him well.
Len is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mavis; daughter, Suzanne (Mark) Martin of Pensecola, FL; son, Paul (Jodi) Brown of Staples; three granddaughters, Erika Martin of Pensecola, FL, Brianna (Tim) Presler of East Grand Forks, Kendra (Andrew) Grimes of Richland, MI; six great-grandchildren, Peyton, Paxton, and Charlotte Presler; Nora, AJ, and Luke Grimes. He is also survived by his brother, Marvin (Ruth) Brown; and many nieces, nephews, and distant relatives.
Len was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Gordon (Julia), Howard (Leoris), Orval (Blanche); and sister, Doris (Lloyd) Kentoph.
Memorials are preferred to Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church.
To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Leonard "Len" E Brown hosted by Nelson-Doran Funeral Home.
