Harlen Brown

Harlen H. Brown, 79, passed away Sept. 21, 2012, at the North Valley Hospital, surrounded by his wife and children.

He was born Aug. 16, 1934, in Poplar to William and Magdalena Brown, but he lived most of his childhood years on his family’s farm near Richie. At a young age, Harlen learned to hunt, and his appreciation for guns and the sport of hunting stayed with him throughout his life.

When he was 31, Harlen moved to the Flathead Valley, where he worked, raised his family and retired from a long career as an ironworker at the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant.

Harlen will be lovingly remembered as a strong, steady man who loved his wife, children, grandchildren and friends, and showed that love in quiet but obvious ways.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Bud Brown and Sonny Brown; sisters Mildred Hughes and Verna Michelson; son Bob Brown; and infant daughter LaRena.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years Frieda; children Dan and Marsha Brown, Kim Brown, Rita Brown and Jim Hegel, Dean and Chris Prichard, Barb and Dave Speer, and Bettie Lou and Chris DeReu, all of the Flathead Valley, Bonnie and Randy Carter, of Deming, N.M., Beckie and Fred Phillips, of Whitehall, and Dan and Gina Prichard, of Queen Creek, Ariz.; sister Beverly Rowe and family of Billings; brothers Herb Brown and family, and Mitz Brown and family, of Richie; and special family friends Layton and Debbie Brown and children, of Las Vegas, Nev. Harlen also loved and enjoyed each of his 22 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren whenever he had the chance.

Funeral services will be held at the Buffalo Hills Mortuary, in Kalispell, on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, at 2 p.m.