Bertle Brown

Bertle Brown, age 91, of Erskine, MN, passed away on Friday (December 4th) at the Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday (December 8th) at Rodnes Lutheran Church, rural Erskine with the Rev. Peter Satren officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Monday (December 7th) at the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Erskine. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church. Military honors will be provided by the Bailey-Throne American Legion Post #596 of Erskine. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Erskine and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com.Bertle John Brown was born on May 8, 1918 at rural Mentor, Minnesota to parents John and Sophie (Eik) Brown. He attended Mentor and Erskine Public Schools. He lost his parents at a very young age and worked for several farms into early adulthood. Bertle was drafted into the United States Army in March of 1941 and served in the African-European theatre of operations during World War II. He received his honorable discharge in July of 1945 and returned to the Erskine area. During his four and a half years of service, he served 31 months with General Patton's units, receiving medals for eight major campaigns. He was personally decorated by General Patton with the Legion Merit Award.He was united in marriage to Bernice Paulson in August of 1946 at Rodnes Lutheran Church of rural Erskine. Bertle worked for Garden Valley Telephone Company for 38 years until his retirement on March 31, 1984. He was a volunteer for the Erskine Fire Department for 37 years and served as their Fire Chief for many years. During his fire department service, he received a Presidential Citation for saving a man's life by resuscitation in August of 1968.Bertle was an active member of Rodnes Lutheran Church where he faithfully served as Treasurer for over 40 years and also on the cemetery board. He was a member of Bailey-Throne American Legion Post #596 of Erskine, served as a Boy Scout Master for many years and was a past member of the Communications Worker's of America. He enjoyed working in his shop, visiting, storytelling and spending time with his family and friends.He passed away on Friday, December 4, 2009 at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine at the age of 91 years, 6 months and 26 days.He is survived by his daughter, Julie (Jon) Clementson of Erskine; son, James Brown (Terry Myhre) of Walker, MN; grandchildren, Sarah (Mathew) Strom of Erskine, Peggy (Matt) Swanson of St. Anthony, MN, Amanda Clementson of Minneapolis, MN, Jenessa (Kevin) Kiecker of McIntosh, MN, and Brett (Jodee) Brown of Climax, MN; great grandchildren, Owen and Emily Strom, Alec and Livaeh Kiecker, and Samantha, Nathaniel, Isaac, Jordan and Lucas Brown. Other relatives also survive.He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice, in 1990; his parents; and brothers, Roy and Clarence Brown.He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.Honorary Pallbearers will be the Bailey-Throne American Legion Post #596 of Erskine and all veterans and active duty members of the United States Armed Forces.Active Pallbearers will be Myles Bakken, Ray Voxland, Dave Salveson, Jeff Nornes, Joe Sandberg and Ronald Nelson.