Gloria Jeanne Brown

Gloria Jeanne Brown, 90, of Kasson, MN passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Methodist Campus in Rochester, MN. Gloria Jeanne (Halvorson) Brown, daughter of Gaylord and Rose (Evans) Halvorson, was born on June 5, 1935, in Roseau, MN. She graduated from Roseau High School as valedictorian of her class in 1953. She attended Augsburg College for one year. She graduated from Bemidji State College in 1966 with degrees in Business Education and Speech and Drama. She taught in LaCrescent, MN for one year. She received her Master's Degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. She was employed by the University and later started her own successful business as an Educational Consultant for schools in Minnesota and North Dakota. She had compassion for students who had a learning disability and was certified in both vision and hearing impaired. She made a difference in the lives of many students; several who continued to keep in touch with her throughout her life. Gloria married Lloyd Solum in 1954. Two daughters were born to this union, Sheri Solum-Manos and Susan Solum-Kelpin. They were later divorced. She met Charles Brown while attending graduate school and they were married in 1969. They made their home in Grand Forks for 31 years where they had many friends and were active in the curling club. In 2000, they retired to Lake of the Woods. This was their dream lake home and it was located right next to her sister Sally and Norm. She enjoyed the friendships she made at the lake and enjoyed the peacefulness of the North Country. Due to Charlie's declining health, it became more difficult to keep up with the work required at the lake. In 2012, they moved to Kasson, MN where she could be closer to her sister Nancy and Dave and Mayo Clinic for Charlie. She continued to live in her townhome in Kasson after Charlie's passing in 2019, until she passed away on August 5, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Rochester, Methodist Campus. Family was very important to Gloria. She was a good cook and liked to bake. She especially enjoyed providing all her good food when friends and family came to visit her at the lake. She also loved dogs and cats and had several different ones over the years. Gloria was an avid reader and was enjoyed being a member of the book club. She especially enjoyed celebrating her birthday so it never went unnoticed by family. She was delighted by the surprise celebration for her 90th birthday by her family in June. Pink and purple were her favorite colors. Gloria was an active member of West St. Olaf Church in rural Hayfield . She led the bible study for WELCA until two years ago. Her faith was strong and she loved her church family. She is survived by her two daughters, Sheri of Edmond, OK, Susan of Jamul, CA; step son, Mike Brown of Colorado; brother, Gale (Lou) Halvorson of Roseau, MN; sister, Nancy (Dave) Peterson of Hayfield, MN; brother-in-law, Norm (Connie) Berg of Roseau, MN. She dearly loved her nieces and nephews and is survived by Tina (Chad) Bigaouette, Mantorville, MN, Mike Peterson, Hayfield, MN, Stephen (Jessica) Berg, Woodbury, MN, Tammy (Kurt) Dahlquist, Roseau, MN, and Marc (Katy) Halvorson, Roseau, MN. Her great nieces and nephews were a source of pride for her. They are Trina and Toni Fjerstad, Drew Baudoin, Avery and Jake Halvorson, Owen, Lucas and Josh Berg, Andrea (Ryan) Sprabary, Weston and Britton Sprabary and several cousins and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charlie; brothers, Gary and David Halvorson; sister, Sally Berg; sons-in-law, Steven Kelpin and Larry Manos; mother and father-in-law, Charles and Rita Brown. Memorials are preferred to West St. Olaf Lutheran Church or Dodge County Food Shelf. In honor of the "little lady in pink", we would enjoy seeing many wearing pink to her service. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 4, 2025, at West St. Olaf Lutheran Church, 70640 260th Ave in Hayfield, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to her service at the church. Inurnment will be in West St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery in Hayfield, MN. To share a special memory or condolence please visit www.czaplewskifuneralhomes.com, Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes, 801 7th St SE Kasson, MN 55944 (507)634-6510. Blessed be her memory.