Kenneth Brown

1923 - 2026

Dr. Kenneth John Brown, age 102, died peacefully on January 24, 2026, in St. George, Utah. Formerly a longtime resident of Rexburg, Idaho, Ken is remembered and cherished as an outstanding educator and a faithful member of his church. He was a devoted family man, a proud World War II veteran and Iwo Jima survivor, a prolific and gifted writer, and one who relished many outdoor pursuits, including cross-country skiing and biking into his early 90s.

Ken was born Nov. 5, 1923, in Clark, Idaho, to John and Jeanette Brown, the seventh of eight children and the only son. His early years were spent on the family farm, where he learned the value and joy of hard work. Ken attended Clark Elementary School and Rigby High School, graduating in 1940 at age 16 after skipping several grades.

A true patriot, he entered the military in March 1944 and was part of the Fifth Marine Division that invaded the Japan-held island of Iwo Jima in one of the most pivotal battles of World War II. He served as assistant to Division Chaplain Cuthriel, with duties involving everything from identifying and burying the dead to leading church services to carrying a weapon and engaging the enemy. After Iwo Jima, Ken served in the Second Marine Division and was among the first troops to witness the devastation of Nagasaki, Japan, after the dropping of the atomic bomb. His journal, "Private Brown's Diary," chronicles his experiences and is catalogued with the U.S. Library of Congress.

Ken fulfilled a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Western States Mission from 1947-49, serving as mission secretary and counselor to the mission president. He was introduced to his future wife, Jean LaRue Clark, by mutual friends in December 1949, and they were married June 30, 1950, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They are the parents of seven children and recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.

Ken earned his undergraduate degree at Ricks College in 1952, a masters at Brigham Young University and a Doctor of Religious Education degree from BYU in 1970. He spent his entire career in the LDS Church Education System, teaching seminary in Sugar City and Rigby, Idaho, and serving as director of LDS Institutes at Weber State University and the University of Wyoming. In 1970, he joined the faculty of Ricks College, where he taught classes in the Department of Religion and served as department chair until his retirement in 1988. That year he received the Distinguished Faculty Award, one of a number of teaching awards. Over his long career, he positively influenced thousands of young lives.

An active and faithful member of the LDS Church his entire life, Ken served in a multitude of positions including bishop. He and Jean were ordinance workers in the Idaho Falls temple and served an LDS mission to the Florida Jacksonville mission. He was a sought-after speaker who addressed many church gatherings over the years and was a scholar of church history and doctrine.

Ken was a talented writer and storyteller. He won first place in a Deseret News contest with his story about a Christmas Eve concert in Nagasaki, Japan, soon after the atomic bomb was dropped. That story has since been widely re-published. He also wrote and published two volumes of his autobiography, a book of original stories, a book of sermons and lectures, a missionary journal and other works. His list "100 Things I Did as a Kid that my Kids will Never Do" has brought delight to generations of his descendants.

Ken loved to fish his favorite hole on the Henry's Fork River in Island Park, Idaho, ski at Grand Targhee and Park City, and attend annual family reunions in Grand Teton National Park. He skied the West Yellowstone Rendezvous Cross-Country Ski Marathon a number of times, always placing in his age class and winning 1st place at age 75. He shared the outdoors with his children at every opportunity, teaching them to fish and camp, and hiking with them to the summit of Mount Timpanogas in Utah during the annual trek. He enjoyed playing the guitar and singing.

He and Jean took many wonderful trips, including travels to Europe, Israel, the Caribbean, Scandinavia, Hawaii and to church historical sites. They also loved spending time in the Tetons and Yellowstone parks and exploring the desert country of southern Utah in their retirement years.

Ken will be remembered for his unwavering testimony of the Gospel, the great love and respect he had for his ancestors and for his love for his family. He is survived by his wife Jean, a sister, Lois Mae Young, children Kaylene (Larry) Barney, Janelle Brown (Carl Hoerger), Lynette (Wade) Nelson, David Brown, Elaine (Greg) Preslar and Kevin (Michelle) Brown, 16 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Kenneth Clark Brown, and grandchildren Krystal Kay Read and Jon Ryan Brown.

The funeral will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. at the 16th LDS Ward Church, 612 South Hidden Valley Road, Rexburg, with a viewing prior to the service at 10 a.m. Interment with full military honors will immediately follow at the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery. The funeral service can also be viewed online at www.flammfh.com.