Walter Brown

A Funeral Service will be held for Walter on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 11:00 am from the chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton with Pastor Steve Rosluck officiating.  

Walter Brown joined his Saviour at the age of  81 on Nov 26, 2018 in Yorkton SK following a serious illness.  He leaves his wife of 57 years, Violet (Ginther) Brown; his son, Darwin Brown (Verna), his daughters Shelley McKone (Thomas-deceased), Jacquie Steinwand (Dennis), Jolaine Wiens (Albert) and Sharon Wiebe (Dave); his 12 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers, sisters, extended family; and many dear friends.

Born and raised in Lampman, SK, he was the 9th child of 13 born to Albert and Olga (Kemp) Braun.  In his early years, Walter helped on his father’s farm, milking cows, driving tractor and all the many chores that need to be done from cleaning barns to feeding chickens to harvesting crops. At a young age Walter showed his entrepreneurial spirit after trading a watch that he was given for a bicycle which made his telegram deliveries much easier than walking.  The bicycle was then traded for a motorcycle and with that motorcycle he expanded his telegram deliveries and even had several other youth working under him. As a teen while still on the farm in Lampman, he was driving his dad’s car and he lost control going over a railroad crossing and ended up in a gravel pit. The car was totalled and he was hospitalized for a considerable time.  

After graduating from Medicine Hat High School, he continued schooling in Edmonton where he graduated with a High Pressure Welding Certificate. He used this training to weld on the pipeline and also bought a gravel truck which he used to assist with construction of Hwy 3 between Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.  He and his brother Ed then moved to Toronto to pursue a career with Moffat Appliances as a welder. He also tried working at a bank as a teller before moving to Medicine Hat at his mother’s prompting and attending Bible College. It was at Hillcrest Christian College where Walter received Christ as his personal Saviour.  This is also where he met the love of his life Vi. The two dated until graduating with a 3 year program in 1961.

Walter and Vi were married on August 5, 1961.  The two soon moved to Wapella, SK where Walter enjoyed pastoring the church there.  In 1962 they moved back to Medicine Hat, near to family, where they farmed for 14 years and were blessed with all five of their children. Walter was involved in buying and selling real estate, purchasing St Theresa`s Academy, owning and managing the Ice Cream Palace (famed for the K&W burgers) and building an apartment block. In 1976 the family moved to Whitewood SK, where they farmed 17 quarters of land, and bred a herd of around 200 registered Salers cattle for 21 years before Walter and Vi moved to Yorkton in 1997.  In Yorkton, Walter retired for 2 weeks …. before Family Brown Salers, his Whitewood cattle business became Family Brown Enterprises - a company dedicated to building quality homes in Yorkton. He concluded his final building project, a 24-unit condominium (The Abbey) at the age of 77. He was well known around town for his well built homes and townhomes.

Walter was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy at age 78 and he was well cared for at Yorkton Regional Care Home shortly thereafter until his death.  He knew many and became friends with many more during his stay there. He always was an energetic and social person with many stories to share.

A Funeral Service will be held for Walter on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 11:00 am from the chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton with Pastor Steve Rosluck officiating.  

Interment will follow in the Yorkton City Cemetery.

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Walter may be made to Youth Unlimited or Heart to Heart International.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Walter Brown, please visit our floral store.