Mary Brown

Mary Ellen Baumgart was born on January 14, 1944 at home in Butler, Minnesota.  Her parents were the late Lester Roy and Ruby Jeanette (Leonard) Baumgart.  Mary attended Country School in Butler Township and graduated from the New York Mills High School with the class of 1962.  On May 18, 1963 Mary was united in marriage with Lyle George Brown, Sr. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Corliss Township, rural Perham.  Their marriage was blessed with 7 children: Kristy, Lyle, Scott, Jonnie, Joni, Lisa and Corey. 

Mary and Lyle made their home in rural Perham, then Frazee in 1964-1965 and in Brainerd for a short time.  Moving to Spruce Grove Township in Becker County, Lyle worked construction and built a barn where they raised hogs.  In 1971 they purchased a farm in Paddock Township and since 1987 have made their home in Spruce Grove Township.  Mary was employed at Quade Turkey in Evergreen and Mickelson Turkey Farm in Wolf Lake.  She enjoyed gardening, baking, canning, reading and going for long walks.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren and would take them to auction sales, flea markets, sale barn and garage sales. 

On April 1, 2021 Mary passed away peacefully under the gentle care of Knute Nelson Hospice with her family by her side at her home in rural Menahga at 77 years of age.  She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Preceding Mary in death were her parents: Lester and Ruby Baumgart; infant twins: Joni and Jonnie; siblings: Virginia Pikula; Jerome “Sonny” Baumgart; Carol Collins; Barb Pikula; and Steve Baumgart; parents-in-law: Ernest and Hazel Brown; sister-in-law: Doris Beach; brothers-in-law: Alvin Wanderi; and Fred Miller.

Mary is survived by her husband of 57 years: Lyle Brown, Sr. of Menahga; children: Kristy (Ted) Baldwin of New York Mills; Lyle, Jr. (Denise) Brown of Menahga; Scott Brown of Menahga; Lisa (Carlos) Camargo of Eagle Mountain, Utah; Corey (Rachael) Brown of Menahga;  17 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; siblings: Hazel (John) Gibbs of Meadview, Arizona; Don (Myrna) Baumgart of Menahga; brothers-in-law: Ronald Pikula of New York Mills; Gary Collins of Detroit Lakes; Duane Pikula of Menahga; Jerry Beach of Sebeka; Ernest Brown of Staples; Bob (Linda) Brown of Deer Creek; sisters-in-law, Ruth Miller of Wadena and Cindy Baumgart of New York Mills; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and a host of friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Brown, please visit our floral store.