James "Jim" Kenneth Brown

James "Jim" Brown, 84, of Dell Rapids passed away on Monday, June 17, 2019 at his home in Dell Rapids.  Visitation will be on Thursday, June 20, 2019 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Kahler Funeral Home and will resume at 5:00 p.m. in St. Mary Catholic Church.  The Christian Wake Service will begin at 7:00 p.m. with a Catholic Order of Foresters Rosary to follow. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 21, 2019 in St. Mary Catholic Church with Father Greg Tschakert as the Celebrant.  Interment with military rites will be in the St. Mary Cemetery.

James Kenneth Brown was born on November 26, 1934 in Dell Rapids, SD, the son of Eugene and Gertrude (Krier) Brown. He grew up on the family farm west of Dell Rapids. He attended school at St. Mary Academy and graduated from St. Mary High School in 1952. He was drafted into the United States Army in April of 1954. He started basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri. While on leave, he married Betty Eich at St. Peter Catholic Church in Colman on August 5, 1954. James served in Korea, Hokuto, Japan, and Guam during the Korean War. After his discharge in April of 1956, he and Betty moved to their farm west of Dell Rapids where they raised their six children. They milked cows, raised chickens, and farmed for over 40 years. In 1993, Jim and Betty moved to their home in the town of Dell Rapids. Their home was always open to guests, family or friends, over a good meal and plenty of laughter. Jim worked for Hoffman Sanitation for seven years and continued to help on the farm until the time of his death.

James was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, a charter member of the Adult Choir and the Men’s Choir, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Dell Rapids American Legion and Legion Firing Squad, and was an active member of the National Farmers Organization since 1961. One of his proudest moments was singing the National Anthem on the stage with John Conlee. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s athletic events, sitting front row hollering suggestions at the referees. He was honored to receive the St. Mary “Friend of Basketball” Award in 2004.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Loretta Busch.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, Betty; his children, Veronica Madetzke of Sioux Falls, Kenny Brown of Dell Rapids, Denise (Mark) Merrigan of Watertown, Kevin (Renee) Brown of Dell Rapids, Diane (Mike) Bunkers of Dell Rapids, and Mike (Angie) Brown of Dell Rapids; his 18 grandchildren and soon-to-be 26 great-grandchildren; his brothers, Earl Brown of Dell Rapids, Ted Brown of Seattle, WA, Ray (Lois) Brown of Dell Rapids, Bill (Diane) Brown of Dell Rapids, and his sister Linda (Lee) McInroy of Dell Rapids; and his many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.

Jim fought cancer for over 24 years and is now in no more pain.

Memorials can be directed to St. Mary School.

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