Grace Nadine Brown

Grace Nadine Mong Brown was born on May 29, 1929 to Ray and Eva Mong at their home in Yoder, Wyoming. She passed away peacefully on June 18, 2015 in Lakewood, Colorado from the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s dementia.

Grace is survived by her blessed husband of 67 years, Delbert Erven Brown; her lucky sons (and devoted daughters-in-law) Robert Erven Brown (Kathy) of Phoenix, Arizona, Roger Kelley Brown (Susan) of Golden, Colorado, Thomas Edward Brown (Katie) of Big Fork, Montana, and Richard Lynn Brown of Lakewood, Colorado; eleven ‘spoiled’ grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father Ray Edward Mong, her mother Eva E. Swanson Mong, her brother Robert Raymond Mong and her sister Eva Jeanne Mong Wamboldt.

Ray and Eva Mong homesteaded in western Nebraska after Ray returned from serving in the Army during World War I. He was appointed rural mail carrier in Yoder, Wyoming and served for 30 years. Eva worked as a bookkeeper and played piano in church and accompanied silent movies. Grace attended Yoder schools and moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming after graduating from high school. She took a summer job at the Citizens’ National Bank and then postponed her acceptance of a scholarship at the University of Wyoming to work at the bank for a year. She never made it to Laramie.

On June 3, 1948, she married her Yoder schoolmate and lifelong partner, Delbert Brown, at the First Presbyterian Church in Torrington, Wyoming. Del worked for the local Texaco distributor for the next several years in Torrington where Grace gave birth to the first two of their four sons, Robert and Roger, in 1949 and 1952. In 1954, Grace and Del returned to Cheyenne when Del joined the Wyoming Highway Patrol and Grace worked part time at the Stockgrowers Bank.

After completing his training, Del was transferred to Gillette, Wyoming for a ‘temporary’ assignment that lasted five years and led to a 22-year stay in that community for Grace and Del. Sons Thomas and Richard were born there in 1956 and 1957. Del went to work at the Stockmens Bank after leaving the patrol. As the younger boys reached school age, Grace returned to work as a part time bookkeeper for Ostlunds Inc. and later accepted the position of Deputy County Treasurer for Campbell County. She served in that position for seven years until her election as County Treasurer in 1974.

Grace and Del moved to Cheyenne in 1977 where Grace returned to her old employer, Stockgrowers Bank (which had become First National Bank), as a mortgage loan officer. She quickly gained experience and responsibility, serving as Vice President of Mortgage Loans, Vice President of Operations, Manager of the Mortgage Loan Department, Vice President of Personal Banking and Marketing, and Vice President of Marketing and Retail Sales as the bank went through a series of mergers and name changes (Norwest Bank Cheyenne, Wyoming National Bank, Norwest Bank Wyoming), eventually becoming part of Wells Fargo Bank.

Grace was excited to finally attend college at the University of Colorado at Boulder for several weeks each year from 1982 to 1984 and again in 1986 and 1987 where she graduated from professional continuing education programs at the Graduate School of Banking and the School of Bank Marketing. After retiring briefly from the bank for three months in 1992, Grace returned to work seasonally as a Committee Secretary in the House of Representatives for six annual sessions of the Wyoming Legislature. She also worked part time for AAA Wyoming and Western Bank.

In 1999, Grace and Del moved to Big Fork, Montana to be near son Tom and his family and to enjoy the beauty and outdoor recreation of the Flathead Valley. Grace once again found seasonal and part time work with the Big Fork Chamber of Commerce and the Flathead Valley Bank during their eight years in Montana. When they returned to Cheyenne in 2007, Grace finally retired from paid work but continued to volunteer with the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. In 2012, Grace and Del moved to Golden, Colorado to be closer to their sons Roger and Richard and their families.

A woman of strong and enduring faith, Grace was a lifelong Christian and active member of the Presbyterian and Methodist churches wherever she lived. She held volunteer service and leadership positions too numerous to list here. Grace was also active in other community and service organizations including PTA, Circle of Friends, Order of the Eastern Star, and P.E.O. International.

Grace enjoyed playing the piano and singing – joining community and church choirs at every opportunity – but she especially loved to play and sing with her children and grandchildren. Her love of music was infectious and inspired three generations of both professional and amateur singers, musicians, performers and music lovers. Above all, Grace loved her family and was the kind of mother, grandmother and great grandmother that all children should have – playful, loving, caring, attentive, firm but forgiving and great at baking cookies. We will miss you, Nana.

During 86 years with us in Wyoming, Montana and Colorado, Grace Brown shared her unrelenting joy and love of life wherever she went and touched innumerable lives with acts of kindness that were never random when coming from Grace. She once wrote “I don’t care what they write on my tombstone as long as it doesn’t say ‘She meant well’!!!” She didn’t need to worry. While the radiant light of Grace’s bright spirit no longer shines directly on us, it continues to warm the memories and illuminate the souls of her family and many, many friends. But the truly amazing legacy Grace left us, is the light which glimmers in the hearts of so many others who felt her glow but never even knew her name. She wants us to pass it on – with interest.

The family will be holding a memorial service to celebrate Grace’s life on August 8th at 9:30 am at the First Presbyterian Church, 250 West 22nd Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001. The family requests that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the Grace N Brown Scholarship that is held by the P.E.O. Foundation which helps women reach for the stars through higher education. Contributions may be made by check payable to the P.E.O. Foundation - Grace N Brown Scholarship and sent to P.E.O. Executive Office, Treasurer’s Department, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312 or donations may be made online using the instructions below at www.peointernational.org/.

P.E.O. Website Instructions: At the top of the page click on “Giving Opportunities,” then under “P.E.O. Foundation” click on “Donate.” Under “Fund Name,” use the pull-down menu to scroll down to “Grace N Brown Scholarship” and click on it. Enter the dollar amount and click on “Add to cart” at the lower left corner of the page. Proceed to checkout and complete the transaction per the website instructions.