Washita Co., Oklahoma - Obit for Minnie Brown

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Obit for Minnie Brown

Services for Minnie Brown were held Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at the Bible
M.B. Church, Cordell, Oklahoma. Burial was at Bible M.B. Cemetery in Bessie,
Oklahoma. Reverend Kevin Creed officiated the services along with Reverend John
Flaming. Services were under the direction of Jack Loftiss Funeral Home,
Cordell, Oklahoma.

Grandma's story is based on information she wrote in 1990 for a stranger who
prodded her into writing her story. Parts of this are direct quotations from
this writing.

Minnie was born to Jacob and Susanna (Zielke) Penner on October 10, 1905, in
Woods County, Oklahoma. She was the fourth of 13 children. Before she was four
years old, she experienced the loss of her baby brother which made a lasting
impression on her. At age 6 she again was touched by an unexpected death -- her
Grandmother Zielke lived only a few hours after an accidental fall. During
those few hours she told her family, “If I hhad died when I fell, I would not
have been ready to meet my Savior, but now I am going to heaven to meet Jesus
my Lord and Savior.”

At age 10, Minnie received the Lord Jesus as her personal Savior. She was
baptized in Littlefield, Texas, when she was 11 years old. In her writings she
states, “I was so happy -- nothing bothered me. I was so happy in the dear
Lord. He received me as his own. I have never regretted it: The dear Lord wwill
see me through until my life is ended.”

Minnie loved school but while she was in the eighth grade, her mother became
ill, so she had to stay home to help. She did attend Corn Bible Academy a short
time where she especially enjoyed the Bible studies and music.

Piano lessons from Annie Brown, niece of her future husband, set the stage for
her meeting Ed whom she most often referred to as her “loved one.” Minnie
Penner and Edward Brown were married March 6, 1927, in the Bessie Mennonite
Brethren Church. They were blessed to enjoy a union of 60 years. She writes,
“Edward, my loved one, sang and played for me lots of times.” God blessed their
home with five children who were taught to sing and play instruments. Together
with plenty of chores, field work and raising their family, they learned to
trust God for all their needs. She writes, “All our children have been so
helpful and wonderful in so many ways. They were no angles; they were tricky
with plenty of life in them. We all worked hard in our younger years, but we
must say that the dear Heavenly Father had a great love for and gave support to
our family.”

It was normal when the children came home from school for them to hear, rather
than see, their mother, for she often was praying. They heard her pray many
times and know her prayers will follow them for all their lives.

We all will greatly miss Mother, Grandma, and Great-Grandma. She leaves her son
Ben Brown and his wife, Elizabeth, of Corn, Oklahoma; son Harry Brown and wife,
Bertha, of Fresno, California; daughter Lillie Ann Brown of Fresno; son-in-law
Gus Penner and his wife, Margaret, of Reedley, California; daughter Lee Esther
Hiebert and her husband, Jack, of Fresno; 24 grandchildren and 29 great-
grandchildren, including spouses, and one great-great-grandson.

She is survived by three sisters and their husband: Agatha and Bill Wohlgemuth
of Hesston, Kansas; Esther and Herb Wichert of Santa Maria, California; Evelyn
and Menno Toews of Clovis, California; two sisters-in-laws, Martha Penner and
Elva Penner, both of Fresno, and many well-loved nieces, nephews, cousins and
friends.

Now rejoicing in heaven with our Heavenly Father, she joins her loved one, Ed,
her parents, her daughter, Leona Penner, a grand-daughter Shirely Jane Penner
and grandson David Janzen, as well as others who have gone before.

We rejoice in the Blessed Hope we have through our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be
to God! The Family