Elsie Mae Brown

Elsie Mae (Funk) Brown, age 95, passed away at her home Polson, MT on February 6, 2024. She was born on August 14, 1928, in Joplin, MT to Waldo and Verna (Sauer) Funk.

She attended schools in Joplin, MT. Elsie met Deane Brown in Whitefish, MT while he was serving in the U.S. Navy. Deane and Elsie were married January 12, 1945. After Deane and Elsie were married, they moved to Eureka, MT, where they owned and ran the Sophie Spring Ranch. They later sold the ranch to the Army Corps of Engineers for use for the Libby Dam. 

In March 1959, Deane and Elsie bought the Foote Ranch in Niarada, MT. The Foote Ranch is now known as the Brown Ranch. Elsie and Deane worked side by side on the ranch until Deane’s death in 1986. At the time of Deane’s death, he and Elsie had been married for 43 years. Elsie remained on the ranch until it was sold in 1990. She then moved to Dayton, MT where she enjoyed many years living in her home on Flathead Lake. Elsie moved from Dayton to Polson, where she resided until her death.

Elsie is preceded in death by her husband Deane, her parents, her daughter Gayle Brueggeman, 3 brothers and 3 sisters.

Elsie is survived by her sister Dorothy Rollis of Post Falls, ID; son Calvin Brown (Lesli) of Linden, TN; her long time companion Jim Jensen of Polson, MT; her grandchildren, Ryan Brueggeman (Jennifer Clancy) of Polson, MT; Crystal Brown (Russell Potts) of Arlee, MT; Dawn Brown of Wenatchee, WA; Jason Brown of TN and Kyle Brueggeman (Elora) of Missoula, MT; step-grandchildren, Nichole Nielsen of Missoula, MT and Jessi Keaton of Linden, TN; great-grandchildren, Tyler Potts (Veronica), Ashley Potts, Charles Brown, Lauren Walker, Brady Potts and Logan Potts as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Elsie requested cremation and that there be no services or viewing after her death. 

There will be a potluck Celebration of Life at the home of Bob Dailey at 35448 Rocky Point Road, Polson, MT on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, starting at 12;00 P.M. Interment will be at Glacier Memorial Gardens on June 26, 2024, at 11:00 A.M.