Len S. Brown, age 81, of Prior Lake, MN, passed away at his home on June 14, 2021. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, 16150 Arcadia Ave, Prior Lake with Pastor Chad Gilbertson officiating. Friend and family who can’t attend in person are invited to stream the service at the following link: Len’s Funeral Service .
Pallbearers will be Jessica Kautza, Jamie Berman, Dan Lindstrom, Sarah Eveland, Kyle Brown, Kayla Brown, Cole Brown and Emma Brown. Honorary Pallbearers are Cassie Hoover, Maria Lecceardone-Diaz and Lily Brown. Visitation will be held prior to services from 9:30 AM to 10:50 AM. Interment Spring Lake Cemetery, Prior Lake.
Leonard Stehn was born on August 11, 1939 to Ellsworth and Alice (Stehn) who he loved very much. Len grew up in Dakota, MN which is a small town in the Mississippi River Valley with his sister, Mary. His father was a postmaster and store owner in town. Len loved the Mississippi River and all it had to offer, to be in the woods during his free time, building shacks and hunting small game. He and his family was always active in the community and Methodist Church, so he gained a strong faith at a young age. Len continued to visit Dakota, his family’s home and youth stomping ground through all his years in which he was so proud.
Len attended Winona High School, which is where he met the love of his life, Becky Moore. Two years out of high school, they were united in marriage on June 20, 1959, at the McKinley Methodist Church in Winona. Shortly after high school, Len’s father put him on a train and sent him to Chicago, where he attended DeVry University, earning an Associate’s degree. Soon after his graduation, Len got a job with Qualitone (later Starkey), where he would work his entire 43-year career fixing hearing aids, managing, and providing unparalleled customer service. Len was excellent at talking to customers and took a leading role maintaining and starting new accounts.
Over the years, Len and Becky moved from Minneapolis to Richfield and Bloomington before settling into a cabin on Prior Lake in 1974. Later, they built a new home on their property on the lake in which they still reside today. During that time, they were blessed with three children. As a family, they loved camping, fishing up north with the cousins, hunting, boating, swimming, and spending lots of time together. Len provided everything for his family, actively taking a coaching role in his children’s sports growing up and being the hub of many gatherings and activities. Len and Becky valued community, and they provided that for their family in Prior Lake, hosting all kinds of events and having many different parties. He was also extremely proud of his little town of Dakota (pop. 300) that he grew up in and was sure to share that with his family whenever he could, taking many trips home over the years. When the grandkids came along, Len and Becky were overjoyed. They spoiled them with love and care and participated in all kinds of fun activities.
Len’s faith was also an important part of his life, attending the Methodist Church. He helped with many things over the years.
Len was quiet but steadfast. He had a big heart and strong beliefs. Welcoming to all and always kind hearted, he will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Becky Brown; son, Lenny (Diane) Brown and their children, Jamie (Josh), Cassie, Sarah (Sam), Kyle (Leah), and Cole; daughter, Jenny (Rick) Lindstrom and their children, Jes (Andy) and Dan (Brooke); son, David (Maria Lecceardone-Brown) Brown and their children, Kayla, Maria, Emma, and Lily; great-grandchildren, Cora, Landon, Jackson, Cameron, and Declan; sister, Mary (Roger) Papenfuss Will; and many other nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Len will be reunited in heaven with his parents; and son, baby Todd Brown.
