Betty M. Brown

June 20, 1927 - February 19, 2013

Betty May Brown was born to Joseph Novak and Marie Kabes Novak on June 20th, 1927 on the family farm east of Geneva, Nebraska. She was the youngest of five children in the Novak family. On February 19th, 2013 at the Exeter Care Center in Exeter, Nebraska Betty Brown passed away at the age of 85 years, seven months and 29 days. Betty was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Joe H. Novak of Fairmont, Mae Schmidt of Fairmont, Charles J. Novak of Crete, and William B. Novak of Geneva. She is survived by husband Rex Brown of Fairmont and daughters Charlene Brown of Lincoln and Leanne Manning of Crete, with son-in-law Mark Manning and granddaughter Emily Mae Manning of Crete, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Betty spent her childhood on the family farm. She attended country school at Alpine District 65 and high school at Geneva High School District 75. She continued her studies at UNL. After high school graduation she worked in Crete, NE as an egg breaker at the Fairmont Foods Company. During her teaching career, she taught for a total of twelve years. She began her first teaching job in the fall of 1944 at Chelsea District 32 where she had four pupils in four different grades. She also taught at District 3 and District 65 and finished her teaching career in Fairmont Public Schools District 19. In May of 1945 Betty attended the Electronic Radio Television Institute in Omaha to be trained as a teletype operator. The Government placed her at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Headquarters near Dayton, Ohio. Upon her return to Nebraska, she served as a clerk in Picard Modern Appliance Store and in Elder’s Jewelry Store. Betty married Rex Wilmer Brown on July 31, 1956 in the 1st Congregational United Church of Christ of Geneva. To them two children were born; Charlene Loree Brown and Leanne Marie Brown Manning. Betty loved nature and all the pleasures of being a farm wife with gardens to tend and animals to care for along with being an active member of the Fairmont Community Church, the Happy Hour Extension Club, United Methodist Women, and Bluebirds Across Nebraska. She recently received her 75-year pin from the Western Fraternal Life Association. She was proud of her Czech heritage and was able to visit her parents’ birthplaces in the Czech Republic. She took delight in sending birthday cards to her dearly loved relatives and friends. She was an avid reader, bird watcher and enjoyed the Top 40 Hits as well as classical music. Graveside committal of ashes will take place on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Fairmont Public Cemetery. No Visitation - Cremation. Memorials are directed to the Nebraska Heart Institute or the Fairmont Community Church in lieu of flowers.