After a long and courageous battle with cancer, DeAnn Brown died peacefully at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minn., surrounded by her family, friends, and husband Jared by her side. She was 45.
According to her obituary on the Gilbertson Funeral Home website, DeAnn Marie Fayerweather was born on Aug. 20, 1980, in Wabasha, Minn., to Robert (Bob) and Mary (Lindgren) Fayerweather. She was the youngest of Bob and Mary’s children and a wonderful surprise to her family. The story goes that her brothers told their parents not to bring the baby home from the hospital if it wasn’t a girl—they didn’t want another brother. Fortunately for them, they welcomed the little sister they had hoped for, and she quickly became a cherished part of the family.
DeAnn graduated from Pepin High School in 1999. That fall, she attended Winona Vocational Technical College in Winona, Minn., earning an associate’s degree in medical transcription and terminology. Shortly after graduation, she began working at St. Joseph Hospital in Chippewa Falls, Wisc. After several years, she accepted a position at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, where she continued working remotely after moving to Devils Lake, N.D. Later, she worked as a medical scheduling specialist at the Altru Clinic in town until her cancer diagnosis and the beginning of chemotherapy in January 2024.
On July 10, 2015, DeAnn married Jared Brown and built a life filled with love, laughter, and unwavering devotion to one another. They welcomed two daughters, Ellen, age 9, and Emma, age 5. Becoming a mother brought her immeasurable joy, and her girls were the light of her life.
DeAnn Brown touched countless lives with her kindness, generosity, and genuine compassion. Family and friends often spoke of what a blessing it was to have her in their lives. She was always willing to lend a helping hand and worked tirelessly for the people she loved. Her warm smile and infectious laugh could brighten any room, and nothing brought her more happiness than making someone else’s day a little better. She lived her life putting others before herself, offering encouragement, comfort, and love without hesitation. Even throughout her battle with cancer, Brown remained more concerned about the people she loved than herself.
DeAnn Brown is survived by her loving husband, Jared Brown, and their daughters, Ellen and Emma, all of Devils Lake; her parents, Robert (Bob) and Mary Fayerweather of Pepin, Wisc.; her sister, Dawn Fayerweather (Mick King) of Rochester, Minn.; her brothers, Dean (Shannon) Fayerweather of Wilson, Wisc., Dale (Julie Wheeler) Fayerweather of Pepin, and Dave (Tracy) Fayerweather of Durand, Wisc.; her paternal aunts and uncles, Barbara (Fayerweather) Winberg of Pepin, Fritz Fayerweather of Sparta, Wisc., Bruce (Janice) Fayerweather of Happy Valley, Calif., and Brian Fayerweather of Pepin; her nieces, Cassy Fayerweather, Delanie Fayerweather, and Helen Fayerweather; her nephews, John Fayerweather, Nolan Fayerweather, Nathan Fayerweather, Bryce (Jasmine) Fayerweather, and Blake Fayerweather; her great-niece, Teagen Fayerweather; her parents-in-law, Ed and Verna Brown; her brothers-in-law, Jon (Cindy) Brown and Jordan Brown, both of Devils Lake; her sister-in-law, Jennifer Brown of Mesa, Ariz.; her nephews, Duncan Brown, Casey Brown, and Drew Brown; and her nieces, Reagan Brown and Bailey Brown.
DeAnn was preceded in death by her maternal uncles, Thomas Lindgren and Dean Lindgren; her paternal aunt, Aleta Mercer; her maternal grandparents, Ralph and Helen Lindgren; her paternal grandparents, Loren and Lorraine Fayerweather; her maternal great-grandparents, Henry and Mary Ahlers and Felix and Signe Lindgren; and her paternal great-grandparents, Fritz and Emily Frank and Chancy and Myrtle Fayerweather.
Pallbearers will be Jon Brown, Casey Brown, Jordan Brown, Dave Fayerweather, Dale Fayerweather, and Dean Fayerweather. Honorary pallbearers will include all her nieces and nephews.
In Devils Lake, visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., with a brief prayer service at 7 p.m., on Wednesday, July 1, at Gilbertson Funeral Home, 509 Hwy. 2 West.
The funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 2, at 11 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, 601 6th St. NE, with visitation one hour prior to the service.
In Pepin, Wisc., a memorial service will be held where DeAnn’s parents continue to reside on Saturday, July 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Pepin Lions Club Building, 300 8th St.