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Thelma G. Brown Obituary – 2/16/2016


Thelma “Sally” Gloria Brown, age 90, of St. Cloud, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, at the St. Benedict’s Senior Community Center in St. Cloud.

She was born July 21, 1925, in Watkins, the daughter of Frank and Esther (Smith) Hillmyer.

Sally attended Watkins School District 44, and graduated in 1943 from Kimball High School.

After graduation, she worked for Honeywell for a short time.

Thelma married Kenneth Brown May 17, 1944, at St. Philips Catholic Church in Litchfield. After living in Minneapolis for a few years, the Browns moved to Grand Forks, ND.

Randall Kevin was adopted and came to live with them in June 1957 at the age of 2 months.

Kenny’s transfers meant moves to Huron and then to Sioux Falls, SD. While they lived in Sioux Falls, Sally began her 25-year career at Raven Industries, and she and Kenny were active in many organizations.

After retirement, Sally moved to Scottsdale, AZ; and in 1993, married Phillip Hartneck. They lived in Arizona for many years until they moved to Annandale in 2003.

In December 2013, Sally moved to St. Benedict’s Senior Community Center in St. Cloud.

She enjoyed dancing, playing cards, camping, making crafts, volunteering, painting, needlework, quilting, and most of all, spending time with family and friends.

She is survived by her grandchildren, Cori (Laran) Christensen of Sioux Falls, SD; and Lucas (Jamie) Brown of North Las Vegas, NV; great-grandchildren Caitlyn Christensen and Kaylee Brown; brothers Roger (Susan) Hillmeyer of Vail, AZ, and Paul Hillmeyer, Cokato; and sisters Mary Cole of Cokato, Doris Birkemeyer of Litchfield, Ruth (Gar) Johnson of Elk River, and Susan Hillmeyer of Becker.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Esther Hillmyer; husbands Kenneth Brown and Phillip Hartneck; son, Randall; and brothers Lloyd (Bud), and Franklin.

A Mass of Christian Burial took place Thursday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. at the Church of St. Philip in Litchfield, with visitation at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment followed in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Arrangements were with Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home in Litchfield; online guestbook at www.johnsonhagglund.com.

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