Marilyn Brown

Marilyn Brown, 81, passed away on March 6, 2024, at her residence in Brookings, SD.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 16, in Brookings, SD, followed by an Interment at Greenwood Cemetery, with luncheon at the church’s Community Life Center to follow. Visitation will be held the night prior from 5 to 7 p.m. at Rude’s Funeral Home on Friday, March 15, at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrance donations be made to Heifer International or Feeding South Dakota, two charities close to Marilyn’s heart.
Marilyn Ambrose Hixon Brown was born on June 21, 1942, in Hillsboro, Ohio, the daughter of Raymond Hixon and Georgeanna (Ambrose) Hixon. She grew up in Hillsboro on the family farm, graduating from Hillsboro High School in 1960. She then attended Ohio State University in Columbus OH, receiving her dual BA in Education and French and a Master’s degree in English.
She married Philip Leslie Brown on Sept. 1, 1966. They lived in Columbus while completing their studies, then moved to Kansas City where their son Geoffrey Philip Brown was born. They then moved to Brookings, SD, where son Andrew Christopher Brown and daughter Megan Ruth Brown were born.
Marilyn held a number of jobs in her life, beginning as a high school English teacher, then selling Avon and running a home daycare while her children were small. She later worked with Lutheran Social Services helping refugee families settle into life in America. She then joined the SDSU English department as an adjunct professor, initially as a composition instructor and then teaching English as a Second Language to students from all over the world, which became her primary area of instruction. After the passing of her husband in 1997, she added management of the SDSU Writing Center to her teaching duties and did both until her retirement in 2014.
Marilyn had wide and varied interests. She was a lifelong reader. She had a deep interest in learning about, cooking, and eating the cuisines of the world. She also loved to travel to different countries, sang in both church and amateur choirs as well as playing clarinet in community band, and later in life became an avid photographer. Marilyn adored cats, having many beloved pets over the years. She enjoyed playing bridge, and during retirement played several times a week. Her faith anchored many of her activities, including leading the Brookings First United Methodist adult Sunday school group for many years.
Marilyn was deeply loving, intelligent, and brightly curious about everything. She was proud of her children and grandchildren.
Marilyn is survived by sister Ruth (James) Hixon Georges of Hillsboro, OH; sons, Geoffrey Brown of St. Louis Park, MN and Andrew (Jennefer) Brown of Mankato, MN and daughter, Megan Straatmeyer of Sioux Falls, SD. She is also survived by her six grandchildren; Geoffrey’s children, Audrey Brown and Cecelia Brown; Andrew’s children, Alaric Brown and Nikolai Brown and Megan’s children, Chivalry Straatmeyer and Saiorse Straatmeyer.
Marilyn is preceded in death by father Raymond Hixon, mother Georgeanna Hixon, and husband Philip Brown.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.