Harlen H. Brown, 79

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

He was born Aug. 16, 1934, in Poplar, to William and Magdalena Brown, but 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 years old, Harlen moved to the Flathead Valley, where he worked, raised his family and retired from a long career as an ironworker at Columbia Falls Aluminum Company. 

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; two brothers, Bud and Sonny Brown; two sisters, Mildred Hughes and Verna Michelson; one son, Bob; and an 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.; a sister, Beverly Rowe and family, of Billings; two 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. 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 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home in Kalispell.