Elizabeth Brown

Elizabeth Brown, the daughter of Dick and Nellie (Kroeze) Van Gelder, was born August 23, 1929 in Orange City, Iowa. She enjoyed her childhood years with her parents and five siblings in Orange City. She graduated from high school at 16, and continued her education at Northwestern College in Orange City where she sang in the choir and received a teaching degree. She later received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake. Upon graduation from Northwestern, Betty began teaching elementary school at age 18 in Albert City, Iowa, where she taught for over 40 years. Elizabeth married the love of her life, Gene Brown, on January 20, 1953. Shortly after marrying Gene, Betty taught briefly in Georgia while Gene was stationed there in the Army. The couple then returned to Albert City to raise their family. Betty primarily taught second grade while Gene ran the family business, Brown Oil and Supply Co. Betty was a longtime member of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Albert City, IA, where she was active in many areas, and especially enjoyed singing in the choir. Betty was currently a member of Hope Reformed Church in Spencer. She was a devoted wife and mother, and adored her grandchildren. Betty had a passion for teaching and children, and was loved by the hundreds of children that she taught. She and Gene enjoyed spending weekends at their lake place on East Okoboji. In her spare time, she loved to dance, crochet and was an avid walker. Elizabeth passed away at the Spencer Hospital on Friday, January 8, 2016 at the age of 86. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene in 1989; one brother, Reynold Van Gelder and three sisters: Marjorie Swets, Etta Zwagerman and Anna Vander Weerd. Left to cherish her memory are one son, Darrick (Rick) and his wife, Karmen Brown of Spencer; one daughter, Gretchen Hoffman and her husband, Doug of Sioux Falls, SD; four grandchildren: Dirk Brown, Heather Brown, Derek Hoffman and Paige Hoffman; one brother, Gerben Van Gelder and his wife, Jan of Corpus Christi, Texas; a sister-in-law, Eleanor Van Gelder of Alton, IA; and many other relatives and friends.

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