In loving memory of
Benjamin Brown
November 8, 2009
Benjamin Whitney Brown was born on July 16, 1924 in Shenandoah, Iowa, the son of Grover Whitney and Irene (Frink) Brown. Ben entered into eternal peace on Sunday, November 8, 2009 in Princeton, Minnesota, at the age of 85.
Ben attended school in Shenandoah and graduated from Shenandoah High School with the Class of 1942. Following graduation Ben served his country as a member of the United States Army Air Corp. He was stationed at the Burma Theater in India. He served his country with pride until he was honorably discharged in 1945. He then returned to his studies at the University of Iowa Law School where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in the early 1950's.
Following graduation from the University of Iowa, Ben entered into law practice with his father Judge Grover W. Brown. In 1968, Ben moved to Des Moines, Iowa and worked for the Iowa Department of Revenue, until his retirement in the early 1990's.
On October 10, 1959 Ben was united in marriage to Diana Bentley in Rock Port, Missouri. The couple was blessed with two children Dana and Bentley. The couple divorced in 1968.
Ben was a member of the American Legion and the Iowa Bar Association. He was a member of the First Baptist Church while residing in Shenandoah. Ben had a love for classical music, photography, and reading books and newspapers. Ben kept current on politics and took a "special" interest in the Democratic Party. He attended the first Wassail Bowl Stag event in 1950, which is held in Shenandoah each year in December. He only missed this event twice.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law Lova Brown. Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Dana Ragsdale and husband Robert (Bob) of Princeton, MN; son, Bentley Brown and wife Susan of Auburn, NE; grandchildren, Greg Hudson of Des Moines, IA and Hannah Brown of Auburn, NE; step-grandchildren Emily and Bailey Collins of Auburn, NE; brother Robert Grover (Bob) Brown of Clear Lake, IA and sister Evelyn Murphy and husband F. C, (Champ) of Wheaton, IL; three nieces; one nephew; other relatives and friends.
A memorial is being established.