Wilfred "Hezzy" & Lois Elaine Brown

The Browns are finally coming home.

Wilfred Hezzy and Lois Elaine Brown, formerly of South Dakota and after 65 years in California, will be interred in Rose Hill Cemetery in Clark following a service at 10:00 am on Tuesday, September 3rd.    It was our Dad's wish that they return to their beloved South Dakota for their final resting place.

Our mom, Lois Madsen was born on July 29, 1922 in Huron, South Dakota to George and Lena Madsen.    She attended local schools and at one point joined her sister Bunny in San Diego, CA for a short time.  Upon returning, she was reintroduced to to our dad, Wilfred Hezzy Brown, through his older brother, Bob.     Hezzy was born in Clark, South Dakota on October 28, 1928 to Robert Carroll Brown and Severina Geise.   Shortly after their reconnection, Mom and Dad were united in marriage on January 22, 1949.

Hezzy was a student at South Dakota School of Mines, where Lois worked as a secretary.    After graduation with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mom and Dad found themselves on a journey to Burbank, CA, where Hezzy secured a career with Lockheed Corporation.   They first settled in Burbank, then bought their first home in Lakeview Terrace.    While there, they welcomed their four children: Charles Howard, Scott Alan, Suellen Elizabeth and Nicole Elaine.  As the area became more populated, they chose to  move their family to the area of Frazier Park, CA, in the Los Padres National Forest an hour north of Los Angeles.  There they lived out the rest of their lives.  They were involved and devoted parents, serving in many ways to support their children.  The boys were involved in Indian Guides and Boy Scouts, as well as Drama productions and sports in high school.  The girls did sports, cheerleading, and Rainbow Girls, a Masonic organization for girls.   Mom and Dad were always supportive, always there when needed.   They spent much time with the Masonic organizations, and Dad was a Past Master Mason.   Both were huge supporters of The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls.

Upon retirement from Lockheed in 1987, Mom and Dad started splitting their time between Frazier Park and Apache Junction, AZ.  They met many wonderful people in AZ and very much enjoyed their winters there.  Dad became involved with the Kern County Commission on Aging, working tirelessly on behalf of the elderly.  Mom was totally supportive of this work and joined him whenever she was feeling up to it.  Mom spent many retirement years indulging in a huge love of hers; painting.  She painted mostly outdoor scenes, many of her beloved desert in Arizona.  We are very fortunate to have these beautiful paintings in our possession now.  They are a beautiful reminder of the joy Mom felt just losing herself in her art.

Mom passed on to Heaven on November 20, 2010 at the age of 88.  She had survived a cancer scare in 1997, and enjoyed 13 more years.  This did not surprise us, for our mother was a model of fighting for what you want.   She went peacefully at home surrounded by all of her children and their families.  Dad passed on on Nov. 24, 2016, also at the age of 88.  Dad was ready to reunite with his love, and he also went peacefully with his daughters and granddaughters Cassandra Banales and Kayla Saldivar with him.  We will forever be grateful for the wonderful treatment he received from the Hoffmann Hospice Home in Bakersfield in his last days.  Mom and Dad left behind their four children, son in law Ronnie Sanchez,  5 grandchidren, Cassandra Banales, Kayla Saldivar, Christian Brown, Jeramia Brown and James Janssen- Brown, and 5 great grandchildren.  They were very loved and missed, and will continue to be held in our hearts.

A service will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Clark, SD at 10 am, followed by internment.  Please feel free to share memories of Wilfred Hezzy and Lois Madsen Brown with our family.