Rita G. Brown

Rita Gail (Hoveland) Brown, 90, of La Crescent, MN died March 1, 2025, at Bethany Riverside in La Crosse. Born on May 21, 1934, in Westby, WI to Palmer and Amy (Lee) Hoveland. Rita was the youngest of three children. She attended Westby schools, graduating from Westby High School in 1952 along with friends, Helen Kissel and Pat Stafslien who continued their friendship throughout Rita's lifetime. It was during her senior year Rita was selected as Westby's sixth annual ski tournament queen. 

Gifted with a talented singing voice, Rita sang in many church choirs over the years, including the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of La Crescent as well as the Nordic Choir of Luther College which she attended after high school. It was at Luther where she met Perry Brown, the love of her life, whom she married on August 4,1956 at the Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church. After marriage Rita worked as a church secretary in Spring Grove, MN at the Trinity Lutheran Church and at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in La Crosse, WI, where she also served at Lutheran Social Services. In addition to her work in the religious area, Rita also worked as a receptionist for various salons in the area as well as modeling for Doerflinger's and their TV commercials. In her free time, she enjoyed spending time outside on her favorite sunny days planting flowers, and on weekends she especially enjoyed watching sports and became an avid follower of the Badgers, Packers, and Vikings. However, what provided the greater joy for her was watching the athletic activities of her son and grandsons.

Rita was a beautiful lady with a magnetic smile and thoughtful personality. Throughout her life, she constantly and unselfishly put the welfare and happiness of others first. Her acceptance of new friends and strangers in her life displayed her virtues of humility and kindness. As a wife, caregiver, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she especially enjoyed watching and helping her children and their children and grandchildren grow into thoughtful and caring humans. Because of Rita's love and unselfish focus on the happiness of others, she helped to make this a better world and though that beautiful smile and generous love will be deeply missed, fortunately her goodness and virtues will be carried on by all of those she touched and influenced during her lifetime.

Rita is survived by her children; Susan Hengel and David Brown. Grandchildren; Joey (Brittney) Hengel and Jason (Ali) Hengel. Great grandchildren; Sawyer Swenson, Tauriel Swenson, Liara Swenson, and Emma Hengel, and special cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Lee and Richard, her husband of 68 years, Pierce "Perry" Brown, and son-in-law, Joseph Hengel.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00pm, Saturday, March 8th at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, 111 S. Oak St. in La Crescent, MN. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:30 until noon.