Lela 'Lee' Brown

Lela “Lee” Brown, 82, of Des Moines, died Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at Ramsey Village in Des Moines. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, September 7, at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset. A visitation with family present will be held one hour prior, beginning at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in the Union Chapel Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Ramsey Village and online condolences can be left at ochiltree.com. Lela Mae Brown was born on June 14, 1936, in Madison County, Iowa near Earlham; the daughter of Ernie and Anna (Hochstetler) Brown. She graduated from Earlham High School in 1954. Following graduation from high school, she began working for Equitable, a career which spanned 37 years and where she was head of payroll. In the 1950’s, it was customary to dress up for work but Lee did not have heels so she wore her mother’s until her first paycheck when she could purchase her own. During her time at Equitable, she was a member of their Women’s Club and served as its first president. She enjoyed volunteering at Ramsey Village and was always generous with her time. Lee loved crocheting, traveling, collecting penguins and Thomas Kinkaid collectibles. When she moved to Ramsey Village, her outgoing nature assisted her in this transition where she continued to help others and was a social butterfly. All this said, she was a loving and kind, sister, aunt and friend who will be missed by many. She is survived by her sister, Mary (Jay) Wildin of Winterset; brother, Don Brown of Winterset; friend, Connie Hufty of West Des Moines; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, extended family and a host of friends. Lee was preceded in death by her parents; sister-in-law, Joan Brown; and a nephew, Mike Wildin.