Ione Brown

Ione Brown, age 82 of Grafton, ND passed away on Monday, November 18, 2013 at Altru Hospital of Grand Forks. Ione Strommen was born July 20, 1931 in Gilby, ND. She graduated from Central High School in Grand Forks, ND. Ione was married to Raymond E. Brown on November 5, 1948 in Grand Forks, ND. The couple moved to Grafton in April of 1952. Ione had a great love of ceramic's. In the late 1970's she started Ione's Ceramics in the basement of her home where she taught ceramics until the early 2000's. Ione was a member of the Grafton Federated Church and WMF. She served on the Advisory Board of the church for many years. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and was active in the Rainbow Girls. She was a Girl and Boy Scout Leader when the kids were active in scouting. Ione and Ray were members of the Couples Bridge Group and Ione was a member of the Ladies Bridge Group. Ione is survived by her children: Pam Johnson, Grafton, ND; Dan (Peggy) Brown, Dickinson, ND; Wendy (John) Anzalone, Louisville, KY; three grandchildren: Joshua (Dana) Moline, Bismarck, ND; Elizabeth Brown, Dickinson, ND; and Nicholas Anzalone, Louisville, KY, her mother Beulah Streich, Edina, MN; brother, Clifford (Bette) Strommen, Carolina Shores, NC; half-sister, Margo Phillips, Wolcottville, IN. She was preceded in death by her husband Ray on May 17, 2010, her brother Roger Strommen and son-in-law, Roger Johnson. Funeral services will be Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. at the Grafton Federated Church. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may also call at the church on Thursday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Crescent Cemetery.