May 9, 1939 – Oct. 24, 2024
Michael Edwin “Mike” Brown passed away peacefully with family by his side, on Oct. 24, 2024, after a long duration of challenging health issues. Mike was born May 9, 1939, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Willis (Bill) Brown and Cassaline (Honey) Stephenson Brown of Edina, Minnesota. He is preceded in death also by his sister Stephanie Brown Porterfield, her husband Christopher Porterfield and niece Tessa Porterfield. Mike is survived by his wife, Sandra of Folsom, California, daughter Michelle Brown Reid and son-in-law Scott Reid, son Michael Edwin Brown II, granddaughters Madeline and Olivia Reid and nephews Christopher and Kevin Porterfield.
Mike graduated from Edina High School and then attended the University of Minnesota before enlisting in the U.S. Navy, in 1958. He graduated as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, serving with both the Navy and Marines, before his honorable discharge in 1964. Mike was a proud patriot.
After his service, Mike continued his studies graduating from St. Cloud State College in 1965, earning a BA Degree in Business and meeting his classmate who would become the love of his life. In 1966, he married Sandra Lepel of Plato, Minnesota. They moved to the Chicago area, where he worked in advertising for “LOOK” Magazine, and they started their loving family with the birth of Michelle. Not long after, when returning to the Minneapolis area, Mike had the good fortune of being blessed with his son Michael and accepting a new position with Jostens. That would relocate them to Rockford, Illinois and lead to a 32-year successful career as an independent sales rep covering schools in the Northern Illinois territory. There they enjoyed seven years of amazing friendships through newcomers and YMCA Y’s Men’s volunteer group, among others. In 1976, they settled in Roscoe, Illinois, and Mike continued his loving devotion of raising their family and immersing themselves in the community until retiring to Big Sky, Montana, in 2001.
Mike was passionate about the way he lived life and the people who surrounded him in it. He was a fun and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend—always making time for a friendly greeting, boisterous laugh, warm hug or to lend a helping hand. He was an athlete at heart, even fulfilling his dream of finishing the NYC Marathon. He had a beautiful respect for nature and was an avid bird hunter, hunting all over the great north with his buddies and shaping life-lasting memories. His love for the sport and conservation of wetland habitats, inspired him to become a Heritage and Grand Slam Life Sponsor of Duck’s Unlimited.
Mike fell in love with snow-skiing at a young age, taking a streetcar with his big sister to Theodore Wirth Park, in Minneapolis to learn. His zest for the sport led him to become one of the earliest ski-bums at Aspen Mountain, where he was a member of the snow-packer crew, diligently grooming the hill with his skis before the skiers arrived for the day, and eager to hit the mountain himself when his job was done.
Mike shared his love of skiing with family, friends and most-proudly his two children, teaching them to ski and planning many ski trips across the country, creating unforgettable stories and lasting memories. His 20-year retirement with Sandy, to Big Sky, Montana, proved to be the “peak” of his life. Mike proudly spent several years as a Big Sky Resort Mountain Host, enjoyed many a day skiing and passing his love of the sport onto his granddaughters, spending time with amazing friends during social and charity events, hunting, fishing, golfing, hiking, rafting, family gatherings and taking in the beautiful mountain and meadow scenery. Mike was also a Minnesota Vikings super fan, always holding out for their first Super Bowl win.
Mike’s good-humored spirit and love of life, as well as his love for his family and devotion to others, will be remembered by all who knew him. There will be a Memorial and Celebration of Life in his honor on Nov. 14, 2024, at the Serrano Country Club in El Dorado Hills, California.
The Brown Family invites anyone unable to attend the Memorial in person to join Mike’s service LIVE via Zoom at 11:30 a.m. PST. Join by copy and pasting the link below with the password: Serrano.
Zoom Livestream: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86289695633?pwd=cbruNg3FyR3mHLLHHGfZphqO7RRn2K.1
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be made in Mike’s honor to either the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the All Saint’s Church in Big Sky, where he was a member.
