VIDA F. BROWN

Vida F. Brown, our much loved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother passed away at home on October 30, 2010.

Vida was born on June 15, 1914 in Red Lodge, Montana to Blaz and Mary Sneider. She was the oldest of four children. Even though Vida grew up during the Great Depression, she always said it never bothered her being poor because everyone was poor. She had a wonderful childhood and loved growing up in Red Lodge where she spent her youth ice skating, swimming in the flume ditch, playing tennis across the neighbor's fence, reading books at the Carnegie Library, going to the picture show at Roman's theater and hanging out with pals.

After graduating from Carbon County High School in 1932, Vida spent five summers, from 1933-38, working as a "pillow puncher" at Canyon Lodge in Yellowstone Park. Vida loved to reminisce about her years working in Yellowstone and told stories of working as a maid and having to dump old fashioned slop jars, the summer when FDR visited, living in a girl's dormitory, dancing to the Big Band sound with the CC boys and good times "rotten logging." During the summer of 1938, a fateful wink to a good looking young man named George Brown later led to marriage and 6 children.

George and Vida were married April 15th, 1939 at St. Agnes church in Red Lodge, Montana. They lived in Bozeman, Montana until May, 1942; then Corpus Christi, Texas, until July, 1943 when they moved to Java Street at Camp Hanford; where George found work as a plumber. In January 1945, the Brown's moved to an "A" house in Richland, where Vida has lived the past 65 years.

Vida's life focus was her family and her father; whom she took care of for 13 years. She never put herself ahead of her family. She was frugal with herself: but generous to others. She was slow to anger, but quick to forgive. She was always in motion; forever cleaning house, washing and ironing clothes, darning socks, cooking wonderful dinners and desserts, pruning her roses, baking an endless supply of "after school" chocolate chip cookies and Christmas potitsa and fruitcakes.

Mom will always be remembered for her ever present and beaming smile, her kind heart, her no whining and get it done attitude, and her forever loving and joyful spirit.

Vida was preceded in death by her husband George Brown, her son Russell Brown and her 3 sisters; Toni Northy, Dorothy Collier and Rosie Danichek. She is survived by 5 children; Kathleen Tom Northy of Spokane, Ron Brown of Richland, David Tannie Brown of Finley, Janice Mark Haney of Richland, Randy Penny Brown of Benton City; 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 5th at Einan' s Funeral Home; with a graveside service to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. A viewing will be held at Einan's Thursday, November 4th, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the funeral service.

We greatly appreciate Hospice workers Anita and Dara for their compassion and excellent care during the final year of Vida's life. A special thanks to granddaughters Marcy and JoJo for their loving care, enabling us to keep Mom at home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Tri-Cites Hospice or The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.