Velma Jean Elizabeth (Peterson) Brown, 85, of Brady, passed away Nov. 24, 2017, at Great Plains Health with her loving family surrounding her.

Velma was born on Jan. 6, 1932, the youngest child of Clarence and Mary (Stevens) Peterson. She grew up in Valentine and graduated from Valentine Rural High School with the class of 1950. She completed her teaching degree at Chadron State Teachers’ College.

Velma married Gerald Brown on Nov. 15, 1952, in Pierre, South Dakota. To this union five children were born, Mike, Pam, Kathy, Deb and Shelle.

Velma was a teacher at heart. She loved children and always provided an opportunity for those around her to learn something new. After 38 years of teaching elementary grade students in one-room schools and larger public schools, she retired from Maxwell Public School.

Velma was a loving wife who cared deeply for her husband. She was especially fond of her family, and her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the joy of her life. Holidays were always a festive occasion where she enjoyed having her family together and decorating her home for the holiday seasons.

In her last days, she had her family over for Thanksgiving. Baking was a passion of Velma’s, and her talent of decorating cakes was shared when she baked birthday cakes designed uniquely for each grandchild. She also decorated cakes for weddings, graduations and any other special occasion.

Velma touched the lives of many people throughout her life, and she will be remembered for her love, nurturing and caring.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald; parents, Clarence and Mary; brothers, Carl, Laurence, Clarence and Ralph and their wives; sisters, Luellabel Groome and Irene Laleff and their husbands; twin infant sisters; grandchildren, Brianna Brown, Jeremy (Becky) Bartels and Jason Bartels; and great-granddaughters, Lehya Jane Bartels and Madison Joy Lee.

Velma is survived by her children, Mike (Sandi) Brown of Lincoln, Pam (Jack) Mann and Kathy Hoffman, both of Brady, Deb Franzen of Rifle, Colorado, and Michele (Stacey) Blagdon of Brady; 19 grandchildren, Josh (Melanie O’Donnell) Brown of Omaha, Cassandra (Dan) Lee of Mahomet, Illinois, Chantel Brown of Omaha, Hillary (Logan) Collins of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Whitney (Ryan) Brown of Kearney, Lucinda (Dan) Robison of Brady, Luke (Kim) Mann of Clayton, North Carolina, Jill Miller of Brady, Angel Hoffman of North Platte, Chris (Priscilla) Franzen of Greeley, Colorado, Keith (Lakyn Parrish) Franzen of Fort Morgan, Colorado, Justin (Kelsey Hauge) Franzen of Sidney, Holly (Korry) Kinnison of Ovid, Colorado, Dylan (Bailey Maddox) Blagdon of North Platte, Cameron (Kellie) Ristine of Lincoln, Torey (Matt) Franzen of North Platte, Mark (April) Hoffman, Karen (Lonnie) McClellen and Sarah Hoffman; 38 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Joan (Orrin) Thiede of Springview, Janice (Tim) Cook of Bassett, Jalene Duggan of Ontario, California, and Judy (Lyle) Nickerson of Imperial; numerous nieces and nephews; the surviving classmates of VRHS Class of 1950; and special longtime friend, Wanda Maxey of Pico Rivera, California.

Memorials are suggested to the Brady Volunteer Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 31, Brady, NE 69123. Online condolences may be shared at blasestrauser.com.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today, Nov. 28, at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel with Pastor John Pauls officiating. Burial will follow at Gaslin Cemetery, Brady. Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, is in charge of arrangements.