Robert Brown

Robert Brown, age 87, of Milbank, SD, passed away on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the Milbank Area Hospital – Avera Health.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Mundwiler Funeral Home Chapel in Milbank, SD. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Wednesday. Rev. Dr. DeVern Schwenn will officiate, and interment will be at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page.

Robert David Brown was born on July 19, 1937, in the family farmhouse southeast of Milbank, SD, to David and Annette (Dragt) Brown. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Milbank High School in 1955. After high school, Robert joined the U.S. Army. While in the Army, he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was released to the Army National Guard and completed his service in 1962.

Robert met Joyce Beck in Milbank, and they were united in marriage on January 21, 1959. They lived in Colorado Springs, CO, while Robert was stationed at Fort Carson. After this, they returned to rural Grant County, near David Brown’s original farm, where Robert began farming. They remained on the farm for the rest of their lives.

Robert stayed active in farming until the 1980s, but he was also active in sales. He was successful for many years with Midland Atlas of Milbank, selling county atlases across the Midwest. He remained active with Midland until retirement in 1999 due to medical disability. He also sold and built grain bins in the late 1970s to the early 1980s.

Robert and Joyce raised three children on the farm. They remained active in the lives of their children and later, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Robert is survived by his children: Jennifer, of rural Milbank, SD; and Joseph (Carla) Brown of Gretna, NE; daughter-in-law, Dianna Brown of rural Milbank, SD; six grandsons: Tyler Brown, Andrew Brown, Matthew Brown, all of Omaha, NE; John Brown of Gretna, NE; Jacob Brown of rural Milbank, SD; and Cole Brown, student at SDSU; and nine great-grandchildren: Henry, Evelyn, Kathryn, Edison, Erika, Lydia, Gareth, Dietrich, and Edmund, all of Omaha, NE.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; and son, Richard.

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