Marlene Brown

Marlene D. Brown, 91, of Clarion, passed away Monday, August 12, 2024 at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

A Memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, August 16, 2024 at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, with Pastor Craig Luttrell officiating. Private Family Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Forest City.

Click the following link to watch the Memorial Service Live Stream. https://meet.goto.com/498754109 

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home on Friday.

January 3, 1933, was a cold wintery day when Marlene Delores Olson was born in Forest City, IA.

She was the 3rd daughter to Reuben & Mamie (Westerberg) Olson. At the age of 12, she accepted Christ as her savior & was baptized in the First Baptist Church (aka Swedish Baptist Church) in Forest City.

Growing up on the family farm, Marlene attended Ellington #3 Township country school & graduated from Forest City High School, class of 1950. That summer of 1950, she was employed at Dr. James Norris (Optometrist) office as front counter/secretary. Later she worked at Harrison Variety store in downtown Forest City.

On December 14, 1951, she married Terry L. Anderson. They had 2 sons, Jeffrey Allen & Jan Terry. The family moved to Clarion, IA in 1958, where her home remained.

Marlene was active member of the First United Methodist Church (Clarion) & served as the Secretary on the Administrative Board for the Church for 11 yrs. She also taught Sunday school & vacation church school. Marlene served as an Officer of both the Lydia Circle & Grace Stockwell circle. In 1983, she received her “Special Membership” pin. She was an officer in the Women’s Federated Club & the Christian Women’s Club Telephone Chairperson for 2 yrs. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother for both Jeff & Jan.

In 1966, she started as a Teller at the Wright County State Bank for 2 yrs. until Brenton Bank purchased WCSB in 1969. She was promoted to Teller Supervisor & Assistant Cashier in 1979 until her retirement in 1994.

In 1990, at Marlene’s 40th class reunion, she reconnected with a classmate Earl (Buster) Brown who was living in Virginia. For nearly 2 years they stayed connected & Buster came back often to visit. On April 25th, 1992, she & Buster were married in Clarion where they continued to live. They loved to travel & traveled all around the U.S. from coast to coast. Other activities included playing cards, board games, auctions/flea markets, but especially going out to eat & having coffee with friends. They were both very active in the church & volunteered whenever needed.

Family was precious to Marlene & she is survived by sons Jeff (Toni) Anderson (Belmond, IA), Jan (Betsy) Anderson (Coeur d’Alene, ID), granddaughter Erika (Brad) Farrell (Hartford, IA) & their three children - Star, Summer (Logan), & Sunny, grandson Josh (Kristen) Anderson (Altoona, IA) & their 3 children – Khloe, Kenzie, & Gabriel, & grandson Will Groetken (Coeur d’Alene, ID). She was a second mother to Buster’s children Earl Brown Jr. (Miami, FL) and Dee Dee Rouse (Los Angeles, CA). She loved her nieces Anita (Jim) Davids, Jennfer (Steve) Brown, Wendy Schulte and nephews H (Joanne) Schar & Tim (Sally) Olson and her grand-nieces & grand-nephews throughout her life.

She is preceded in death by her parents Reuben & Mamie (Westerberg) Olson, sister Alice Schar & her husband Art, nephew Fred Schar, sister Alpha Olson & her husband Don, nephew Kevin Olson, and her beloved husband Buster Brown.