Harold “Shorty” Brown ’62

On November 3, 2020 Harold Edwin Brown, “Shorty” to most, went to be with the Lord. He was met by those who had gone before, family, friends and people whose lives he had touched.

Shorty was born to John and Bertha Brown on August 25, 1939 on Mott Road in Canton Township, Michigan. He was the youngest of six children.

After high school Shorty moved to California to be nearer to his sister Nancy. There he met Dewayne Schendel, who would be pivotal and change the direction of his life. Through Dewayne, he became a Christian and was called to ministry. He decided to go to Michigan and attended Hope College studying religion in preparation for Seminary. At Hope College he met his soon to be wife Heldred DeWitt. They were married March 31, 1962 and had two children; Connie and Nicholas.

He attended Western Theological Seminary in 1962. During that time, he was offered an internship in Mescalero, New Mexico working with the Apaches. The time there sparked a lifelong love of American Indians which would be with him through his whole ministry. Shorty’s passion for native people and his role as Director of Adult Ministry, in both America and Mexico, led to some of his most fond memories and he often spoke about people he met and the times he had serving them.

During Shorty’s lifetime he served many churches in Colorado, Wisconsin, California, Washington, Nebraska, Florida, Michigan and finally Idaho. During his ministry he helped the native people and other pastors in their ministry, and he to help missions in South America. He wanted to empower others to serve God with their gifts and time. Shorty pointed people to Jesus and used his talents to further the Kingdom.

At the end Shorty was losing a battle with Lewy Body Dementia, however he did not lose his trust in Jesus or his love of Native Americans. Those who visited Shorty during his battle would find a man in a black vest, cowboy hat and boots, with a smile and a wave. He might not have known your name, but he was always glad to see you and share his wave and smile.

Shorty is survived by his wife of 58 years, Heldred, his daughter Connie and her children, Darby, Jacob, Jacob’s wife, Jordan, and Delaney Womack and his son Nicholas, his wife Kerri and their children Kylee and Conner Brown. He is also survived by numerous nieces of his four siblings.

Return to Current In Memoriam