Helen Brown

Helen Ruth Brown, 85, died of natural causes on Monday, September 26, 2016, at Kavanagh House in Des Moines. The funeral service will be Friday, September 30, at 6 p.m. at Hamilton's on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines with visitation prior from 4 to 6 p.m. Her cremated remains will be interred in Carroll City Cemetery on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Helen was born August 31, 1931, to Viola (Gray) Annear and Harry A. Grimsman in Carroll, IA. She married Lloyd William Brown in 1950 in Afton, IA. They lived in Des Moines, IA, until they moved to the family farm outside of Arispe. Later they moved into Arispe where she opened her own beauty shop.

In 1981, they moved to Arcadia, IA, to oversee the family farm. Helen opened her new beauty shop in Arcadia. Helen and Lloyd enjoyed polka dancing and were the Iowa Polka King and Queen in 1990. During retirement they played cards and socialized in southern Texas where they lived for several years. They moved to West Des Moines in 2010.

Helen is survived by her three children, Richard Brown of West Des Moines, Debra Smith of Grimes and Ronald (Jan) Brown of West Des Moines; her sisters, Georgeen (Ralph) Taylor of Sturgeon Bay, WI, Carolyn Grimsman of Ames, Patricia (Joe) Koster of Lake City, and Barb (Randy) Koenig of Ankeny; her step-sister, Sue (Duane) Greving of Carroll; step-brother, Mike Balk of Sioux City; five grandchildren, David (Meredith) Smith, Andrea Smith, Corey Smith, Kelli Brown, and Curtis (Carla) Brown; six great-grandchildren: Caleb, Liberty, Caden, Brennlyn, Luis and Nicolas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd; parents; sister, Betty Koski; brother, Charles Grimsman; one grandchild, Dustin Smith; and step-mother, Thelma Grimsman.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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