Small Town News

Sophie L. Brown

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Sophie L. Brown 86, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 at her North Newton, Kan., residence.

She was born April 19, 1924 in Goessel, Kan., to Simon F. and Margaret (Unruh) Schmidt. She was graduated from Goessel High School and Bethel College in Kansas. She married Roland P. Brown in 1948 and he survives at the home.

Sophie was a life long teacher and served missionary service beside her husband for many years in Taiwan. While in Taiwan she raised her own family while serving the community working at the hospital her husband was serving and she was instrumental in starting the Hualien Christian School with two other mothers to educate their children. As her family grew she was instrumental in staining a kindergarten and also counseled unwed mothers. Sophie's counseling was very rewarding and she continued to educate herself at Arizona State University and Wichita State University in the field of counseling and special education. With this education she worked at the New Dawn Developmental Center with develop-mentally handicapped children and their teachers in Taiwan for nearly 10 years. She retired from missionary service along with her husband in 1990 after a long, rewarding service.

Family was very important to Sophie and she greatly looked forward to spending time with her loving family and many friends. She and her husband returned to Taiwan from 1993-1995 and they also enjoyed a trip to China.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Roland P. Brown, N. Newton; two sons: Clifford Brown, Tulsa, Okla., and G. Keith Brown, Taipai, Taiwan; daughter: Carol Ann Fynan, Montgomery, Ala.; brother: Randolph Schmidt, Goessel; and sister Alda M. Wedel, Hesston, Kan. She also has five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Sophie is preceded in death by her parents and one brother Lester F. Schmidt.

A memorial service was held Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. at Bethel College Mennonite Church in N. Newton.

Memorial contributions may be left with The Brown Scholarship Fund at Associated Mennonite Seminary or the New Dawn School in Taiwan in care of Petersen Funeral Home 215 North Main, Newton, KS 67114.

So many people will walk in and out of your life, but those who leave foot prints are true friends.



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© 2011 Freeman Courier Freeman, South Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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