Emma Aileen Prickett Brown

Emma Aileen Prickett Brown , went to meet her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday, August 15, 2015, the birthday of her "beloved" son-in-law's mother, Verla Simmonds. A celebration of life will be 1:30 PM, Saturday, August 22, 2015 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Yankton, with Rev. Steve Weispfennig officiating. Burial will be in the Rosehill Cemetery, Scotland, SD at approximately 3:45 PM Saturday afternoon. Visitations will begin at 4:00 PM, Friday, August 21, 2015 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Yankton, with a Scripture service at 7:30 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.

Pallbearers are: Wendell Simmonds, Scott Prickett, Randy Johnson, Terry Simantel, Gale Conrad and Duane Dean.

Emma Aileen Prickett Brown, age 93, was born May 6, 1922 on a farm near Olivet, SD, the daughter of Grover and Emma (Zanter) Prickett. She was received into the Kingdom of God's grace though the Sacrament of Holy Baptism as an infant at St Peter's Lutheran Church in Clayton, SD. At the age of thirteen, Emma renewed her baptismal vows also in St. Peter's Lutheran Church.

Emma grew up in the Milltown-Parkston, South Dakota area. She attended elementary school at District #78 and graduated from Parkston High School in 1939. The years following, she worked in Denver, CO, Portland, OR and Newark, NJ. She married Alfred D. Brown on September 19, 1946 and moved on a farm near Scotland, SD where they resided for forty-five years. The union was blessed with a daughter and son.

Alfred passed away in 1990 and in 1991, Emma moved to Yankton, SD where she helped elderly people so they could stay in their own homes.

Emma was active in St. Paul's Lutheran Church and later in St. John's Lutheran Church in Yankton. She loved to sing in the choir and was an accomplished soloist. She really enjoyed her years singing with a group named the "Balladeers". She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary in Scotland, SD and the "Civic Club". Her next love was traveling, having been in all fifty states and also making many trips to Europe, United Kingdom and Scandinavia.

In thanksgiving for her life is her daughter, Suzanne (Wendell) Simmonds of Sioux City, IA; grandson, Keevan (Tanya) Simmonds; great-grandsons, Tommy, Ty, Blake and Beckham Simmonds of Marian, IA; granddaughter, Jessica (Mason) Lavaway; great-granddaughter, Morgan; great-grandsons, Orrin and Jesson Lavaway of Akron, IA; one sister, Lila Thorp of Sioux City, IA; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Prickett of Yankton, SD, Marian Prickett of Mitchell, SD; best friend, Vi Ranney; caregiver who was like her second daughter, Carla Maibaum of Yankton, SD and senior companion, Nona Bitsos of Yankton, SD.

Those going ahead to greet her were her husband, Alfred Brown; her son, Michael K. Brown; four sisters: Vera Prickett, Eva Michaelsen, Helen Zomer and Wilma Stainbrook and five brothers: Andrew, Virgil, Leland, Vernon and Joe Prickett (who gave his life in WW2).

Please take time on Friday to visit Emma's family and help celebrate her life. She would love a reunion of her, Alfred's, Mike's and Suzi's friends. We will be serving homemade pies in Emma's honor. Feel free to stop in the chapel for special music and reflection. Drop in any time and stay as long as you like. Emma would expect everyone to have a good time.

Anyone who is reading this is genuinely encouraged to come to Emma's funeral on Saturday to hear a special sermon on "Heaven". It does not matter if you know her and her family. We would love to have you.