Linda F. Brown

Linda Faye Brown of Fargo, North Dakota, died on 11/1/2013 at Sanford Palliative Care in Fargo from a sudden onset and brave fight with terminal lung cancer.

Linda was the daughter of Harold Brown and Delores “Tootsie” Brown Carlson and was born in Langdon, ND on January 30, 1948. She grew up on her family’s farm and graduated from Milton High School in 1966. Linda stayed in touch with several of those classmates and treasured those friendships greatly.

In 1968 Linda graduated from the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton with a degree in Secretarial Science. She loved working for more than forty years as an administrative and executive secretary in a variety of fields. Among those were the Public Relations Department at UND, executive secretary to the late Hale Layborn, CEO and the Board of Directors of Blue Cross of ND, and later the administrative secretary to the President and Board of St. Luke’s Hospitals (now called Sanford) and the administrative secretary at Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center. She enjoyed her work there, appreciated the interaction with the patients, and so enjoyed being a part of its beginnings. She always said she came in with the last roll of carpet! Later she helped to establish embrace, the cancer survivorship program at Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center.

Linda was named Secretary of the Year for the Grand Forks Chapter of the National Secretaries Association in 1976, and for the Minnesota and North Dakota Division of the National Secretaries Association later that same year.

Baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran tradition at Milton Lutheran Church, Linda was active in her church most of her life. At the time of her death, she was honored to be a member of Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo, her beloved church home for many years. She was active as a volunteer in countless ways throughout the years, including being Chairwoman of the Call Committee in 1996, calling Pastor Jeff Sandgren at a pivotal time for the church. Linda felt it a privilege to be part of this amazing congregation and in 1997 took time off from work to coordinate the flood relief food program. She later did the same during subsequent floods and loved every minute of her service to the community. She jokingly called it “Feeding the Flooded”. Linda also served two terms on the Board of Lutheran Social Services of ND and just loved her newest role as a volunteer at Sons of Norway, where she was called one of the “young” ones. Linda loved her life and was grateful for the abundant blessings God so freely gave her.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents. She is survived by her beloved brother Dennis (Vicki) Brown of Milton, special nephews Kyle (Cherie) Brown of Milton and their children Carson and Kadyn; and Jamie King (Chanah) and their children Samantha and Jacob of Galveston, TX. She also is survived by her aunts Doris (Mick) Otto and Betty Lesher, her cousin Marie Olson, and cousins Melva and Ellerd Boe. She also is survived by her treasured friends Linda and Zander Ness. She so loved her family, her church, good friends, good food, classical music, laughter, and her very pampered cats throughout the years. She will be greatly missed by many who were fortunate enough to know her.

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, 215 7th Street S. in Fargo on Friday, November 8th from 5-7 with a Prayer Service at 7pm. Her Funeral and Celebration of Life will be held at Olivet Lutheran Church, 1330 University Drive S. in Fargo on Saturday, November 9th at 2pm. Linda’s cremains will be placed in the grave site of her beloved mother at Dovre Lutheran Cemetery near her childhood home in northeastern North Dakota.

Linda specifically asked that In lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to Olivet Lutheran
Church, the Humane Society of Fargo, or a charity of your choice.