Kenneth W. "Ken" Brown

Kenneth W. "Ken" Brown, a lifelong dairy farmer in Washington County, died peacefully following a brief illness on Friday morning, January 28, 2022, at the age of 92. Kenneth Walter, the son of Walter and Frances (Dornfeld) Brown, was born on April 28, 1929, in Hastings. Following his graduation from Hastings High School with the class of 1948, Ken was drafted in to the United States Army in 1953 and later received an Honorable Discharge. On July 20, 1957, Ken was united in marriage to Birdie Paulson, and they were blessed with sixty-four years of marriage. Ken was a lifelong resident of Denmark Township. In 1958, he and Birdie purchased the family farmstead and continued the tradition of farming and milking cows. Following many years of operating Moccasin Holstein Farm, Ken decided to stop milking in 1996 and they transitioned into raising and showing Holstein Cattle. Today, the Brown family continues with this tradition which has now spanned into the fourth generation to raise and show even at the National level. Over the years, Ken enjoyed volunteering on the Washington County Ag Society Board, Hastings Creamery Board of Directors, 4H, and was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Hastings as well as the Minnesota Holstein Association. He and Birdie enjoyed hosting foreign exchange students from 1965 to 1981, and going to Camp Croix with church friends for many years. In his free time, Ken enjoyed playing church ball and attending many of the Monday night games. He was preceded in death by his parents; and by his siblings, Harlan, Russell, Glen, Wayne, and two in infancy. Ken is survived by his wife, Birdie; children, Kevin (Kris) Brown and Vickie (Ben) Tewes; grandchildren, Mackenzie, Brooks, Zack, Jordan, and Sarah; great granddaughter, Marilyn; sisters-in-law, Angie Brown, Ginny (Vern) Meier, and Judy (Walter) Groth; and by many other relatives and friends. Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Hastings, with Pastor Jon Zimpelmann officiating. Private family interment will be held at a later date. Military Honors by Hastings VFW Lyle Russell Post 1210 will be held outside of church following the service. Family and friends are cordially invited to a visitation from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and to a reception immediately following the service, all at church on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. John's Lutheran Church or Washington County 4H in memory of Ken. Arrangements are being completed by Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings.