Oliver Jesse Brown, 88, of McCook died Jan. 11, 2000, at Shelton.

He was born Jan. 13, 1911, at Shelton to Peter Howard and Mary Roxanna Monroe Brown. He moved with his family to Julesburg, Colo., Shelton, Kenesaw and later to Grant. He attended school in Perkins County until the 10th grade. He helped with the family farm and continued to farm and do mechanical work as long as his health permitted.

On Dec. 25, 1933, he married Verneeda Ilene Gewecke at her parent's farm in Farnam. They had two children. In March 1934, they moved to Wessington Springs, S.D. and lived on a farm owned by his father. They moved back to Farnam in October 1936. They farmed in the Farnam area until October 1940, then they moved to Grant. They rented a farm along the Perkins and Keith County border. He and his wife did custom farming as well as farming their own place. In June 1950, they moved to Lodge Pole where his wife was the pastor of The Pilgrim Holiness Church. In 1993, they moved to North Platte to be near their son. In August 1998, they moved to McCook when their son moved there.

He was a member of The First Church Of The Nazarene in McCook. He was known for his generosity and kind deeds for others.

Mr. Brown is survived by his son, Melvin (Audrey) of McCook; a sister, Roxa Reed of Grant; and four brothers, Howard (Phyllis) of Canada, Tom (Mildred) of North Platte, Eldon of Washington, and Albert (Katherine) of Grant; five grandchildren, Sandra (Thomas) Hazen of Ankeny, Iowa, Sylvia (Eddie) Hansen, Laverne (Gegetta) Brown and Karla (Charles) Downey, all of North Platte and Leta (David) Callaway of Esbon, Kan.; 12 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dec. 18, 1999; his daughter, Dorothy; his parents; five sisters, Doris, Florence, Mary, Rosa and Ruth; and two brothers, Hugh and Walter.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. CT Friday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte. Burial will be at 2 p.m. MT in the Grant Cemetery.

The North Platte Telegraph, January 12, 2000