Vivian Margaret Brown was born December 14, 1922, and passed away July 31, 2013 after a brief illness. She was born in Clancy Montana where she spent much of her life lovingly raising five children. She started cooking on area ranches while still in high school and learned to love gardening and raising poultry.
Vivian married Angus Brown but later divorced. Daughters, Estelle and Gladys, were born to this union. Vivian married Joseph W. Brown in 1948 and they were blessed with daughter Frances, son James W. (Jim) and daughter Barbara.
In 1961, she began her CNA career working at local nursing facilities, Alhambra Manor, Big Sky Care, Parkside and Western Care. She loved caring for the elderly and did so for more than 35 years. Her tender spot was for those ladies who had born and reared many children (all without the benefit of modern medicine or connveniences) and for her favorite knitters for whom she often bought their yarn with her own money, just so they “could have something to do”.
Vivian was a wonderful cook. There was always something special being prepared in her kitchen. Her greatest joy was cooking holiday dinners and to have all five of her children, their families and anyone else she could feed, in attendance. She was generous and loved to ‘do’ for family and friends. She never quite quit cooking for her large family. She baked her famous Christmas cookies-care-packages for anyone who moved away from home, and later for her extended families which included Anyone who happened to work with her precious kids. She loved to garden, to can, to hook rugs, and to give away her bounty. She was an avid reader. She retired at age 70, moved from the family home in Clancy to Helena, where she loved receiving visitors. Nephew Raymond was appreciated for visits, errands and a unlimited things he did to keep her happy, healthy, well-informed and comfortable (and out of trouble with her kids!) Showing her photo collection gave her geat joy, and especially after Debbie and Lorraine turned them into beautiful albums.
Vivian was preceded in death by her husband Joe, parents Irene and Oscar Hanna, two brothers- Ray (Bus) and Kenneth Hanna, and her sister and brother in-law Estella and Walter Baugh.
She is survived by daughters Estelle Hayes, Gladys Hiett (Don Mullin) of Helena; Frances (Walter) O’Hara of Montana City; Barbara Brown of Helena; and son Jim (Fran) Brown of Clancy; grandchildren; Deanna Hersey, Clinton Hersey, Cathy White, Becky Weise, Ellen Martensen and Sarah Martensen, great grand children: Ryan Hersey, Jaymes White, Crystle Weise, Jessie Weise, Elyjhia Martensen, Sarah and Nicholas Pavlica, an great great granddaughter Angela Michelle White Bear, nephew Raymond Baugh and his daughter Jessie, niece Barbara (Dale) Greer and her sons Tom and Tim Reilly, niece Lorraine (Bob) Bayless and her family Debbie, Lisa, Greg, Ron and Steve; sister-in law Norma Hanna and her family, Kip, Kelly, Kerry and Kory Hanna; and nephew Ken Hanna.
The family invites you to join them in remembering and celebrating Vivian’s life 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 3, 2013 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Avenue. A reception will be held in the social center of the funeral home immediately following the service. Memorials in Vivian’s name are suggested to the Rocky Mountain Development Council; C/O Senior Companion Program P.O. Box 1717 Helena, Montana 59624.
Sam Duran says
My thoughts and prayers are with your family in this time of sadness. It was a pleasure to meet your Mother who was very great host. May she rest in peace !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!