Susan Brown

Longtime Wasilla, Alaska, resident Sue (Hjellen) Brown, 73, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer, Alaska, from complications due to COPD. A family service to honor Sue's life will be held at a future date. Susan was born on Dec. 22, 1942, in Sedro-Woolly, Wash., the daughter of Elwin Hjellen and Elizabeth (Snider) Hjellen, but returned to Wasilla, where she spent the majority of her childhood. Sue spent her high school years in Port Townsend, Wash., where she met and married David Brown on March 17, 1961. Soon after they married, Dave entered the Air Force where his tours of duties took them to Biloxi, Miss.; Yuba City, Calif.; Los Angeles, Calif; Plattsburgh, N.Y.; Misawa and Tokyo, Japan; Sacramento, Calif.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Prattville, Ala.; and finally back to her beloved state of Alaska in 1981. During Dave's Air Force career, Sue held a variety of jobs: factory worker; waitress, cashier, taxi cab driver, Sears, various jobs on Air Force installations, DoD Civil Service and then for the State of Alaska until her retirement. Sue enjoyed bowling, golf, volunteering at the animal shelter, reading, taking cruises and doing crossword puzzles. She was also a lifetime member of the Wasilla VFW auxiliary. Sue was very proud to be an Alaskan and embodied the same pioneering spirit that her family demonstrated as they helped shape Wasilla into what it has become today. Sue enjoyed experiencing life as demonstrated by her passion for travel, playing rugby, belly dancing, white water rafting and anything else that caught her interest. She was very passionate in the care for her pets and had a soft spot for all animals, as she demonstrated in her feeding of the "poor" ravens and squirrels during the long winters. Sue loved her family and shared that love with them until her last day. Sue went out on her terms and is now reunited with her husband Dave of 55 years. Sue will be greatly missed. Sue is survived by her son, Troy Brown of Navarre, Fla.; son, Tony Brown of Anchorage; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and her brothers and sisters, Gil, Pete, Ida and Alice, who all reside in Alaska. Sue was preceded in death by her husband, David Brown; mother and father, Pat and Al Hjellen; and her brother, Gary.