Deidra Brown – Jan 7, 2020

Deidra was born on October 14, 1956 to Robert and Jane (Coty) Steller in Vermillion, SD. Deidra honed her nurturing skills as a member of a big family. She was the oldest child, followed by three sisters and two brothers. She learned early to share, be kind and to listen to those around you.

Her family moved to Jamestown in 1975 and she enrolled at Jamestown College to pursue a teaching degree. She graduated in 1979 and landed her first teaching job of first grade at St. John’s Academy in Jamestown. It was the start of a career she loved and excelled at – helping develop young children with traditional learning and life skills. When she married Richard (Dick) Brown at the Basilica, her 37 students served as honorary ring bearers and flower girls. Her entire class followed her down the aisle as she wanted to share her happiness with each of them.

The Brown family were blessed with three children – Philip, Tara and Gregory. After Philip’s birth, Deidra gave up her teaching career and started a day care in their home in order to spend as much time as possible with her kids. She taught her day care kids school lessons, manners and did field trips around town. On Holy Days, she was known to take the children to Mass, where they would quietly sit in the pews. She was truly gifted with handling children. Many of those babies had babies of their own, and they often stopped by her home to visit and catch up.

Deidra gave up her day care after 30 years and officially became a volunteer. And boy did she volunteer! First, at the All Vets Club and more recently at Ava Maria Village, Eventide and Roseadele. In her spare time, you would find her at a daily workout at Legacy Fitness Center.

She served as extraordinary minister of Holy Communion for many years. She was devout and committed to her calling. Deidra loved the residents and gifted them with special treats and treasures. She gave away rosaries and crosses she made to all in the places she served. She was a prayer warrior.

Deidra was a Gold Star Mother who lost her first-born son, Philip, in 2004 while he served our country in Iraq. She was also preceded in death by her mother, Jane, her father-in-law, Jack Brown, her sister Deanna Schmidt, brother-in-law Michael Schmidt, nephew Jordan Schmidt and niece Alicia Stratford.

Her survivors include her husband of 40 years, Dick; her children Tara and Greg; her father Robert; sisters Donnette (Mark) Hermes and Denise Coty; brothers Blain (Laurie) and Brock (Holly); mother-in-law Mirt Brown; sisters-in-law Jacquie (Chris) Stratford, Jill (Richard) Newark and Barbara Brown; goddaughter Narrah Newark, godson Tyler Monson; several nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.

Deidra signed her emails with her favorite saying: “Nothing is worth more than this day.” She lived her life fulfilling those words. Arrangements by Eddy Funeral Home.