Darlene Rose Gillaspie Brown

Darlene Rose Gillaspie Brown, namesake of grandmother Rose Darlene Racine, died Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo.

Born to Altie and Angie Racine Gillaspie, January 31, 1926, the second youngest of seven brothers and three sisters, Darlene grew up in Torrington, Wyoming and graduated from Torrington High School in 1944.

On July 31, 1944, Darlene married Robert W. Brown. They lived in Dallas, TX, where their first son, Phillip, was born. They returned to Wyoming and operated insurance agencies in Powell and Casper, Wyoming. Darlene was a licensed agent in casualty and life insurance. During this time, Nancy and Lon joined the family.

In 1957 the family moved to Fargo, ND. After Robert’s retirement they moved to their lake home on Rush Lake near Perham, MN. Darlene helped organize and became the first president of the Rush Lake Property Association. While Darlene and Bob enjoyed their lake lives, Darlene pursued oil and watercolor painting. Her family’s walls are graced with her beautiful art. Darlene’s beloved husband, Bob, died in 1988.

Darlene was a woman of service to her family, church, and community. She was very involved in her church and served as an active circle member, Sunday school teacher, Stephen minister and deacon.

While her children were growing up, Darlene volunteered as a girl’s Camp Fire leader for over ten years and was active in the YMCA. Darlene was an excellent seamstress, sewing clothing for herself, her children and grandchildren.

Darlene volunteered at the Fargo Veteran’s Hospital. She was a member of Easter Star and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Robert and Darlene spent many years in volunteer endeavors for the Shrine Hospital program. Their early efforts helped establish the North Dakota Shrine football advertisement program in what it is today.

We will miss our beloved Darlene Rose Gillaspie Brown-a good and loving Christian woman.

Darlene is survived by her children, Nancy Morry Travis and Lon Brown; her daughter-in-law, Jan Brown, her adoring six grandchildren, Paul, Tracy, Kristi, Amy, Anne and David; her nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bob; her son, Phillip; one grandchild, and all of her siblings.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Viking Manor in Ulen, MN and all of Darlene’s caretakers over the past 3 years for their wonderful, loving care.