Obituary - Herbert James Brown

HERBERT JAMES “BERT” BROWN

A memorial service for Herbert James “Bert” Brown was conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, 1996 at the Vase Funeral Chapel, 154 Elk St., Rock Springs. The Rev. Fred Wendel officiated. Military graveside services and inurnment followed in the Paul J. Wataha Memorial Park in Rock Springs.

Honorary pallbearers were Richard Canestrini, Jack Collins, Jack Penoff, Carl Bozner, Roger Gunyan, Mike Cantwell, Bill Wonnacott, Joe Georgis and the Rock Springs Firefighters Local #1499.

Brown, 59, of 421 Pine St., Rock Springs, died at 12:05 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, 1995 at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County where he had been a patient since Dec. 26, 1995.

A lifelong resident of Rock Springs, Brown had been in ill health for the past several years.

He was born Oct. 26, 1936 in Rock Springs, the son of David and Ethel Cook Brown. Brown attended schools in Rock Springs and was a graduate of Rock Springs High School with the class of 1954.

He married the former Pauline Velikaneye in Evanston on Dec. 4, 1958 and their marriage was blessed in April 1975 at the Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Rock Springs.

Brown was a U.S. Army veteran. He was a retired firefighter who worked from 1963-1983. Brown retired as a lieutenant, having served in various capacities for the fire department as fire inspector, assistant fire chief and active fire chief. After his retirement, Brown went to work as a custodian for Dr. G.M. Harrison and Yellowstone School.

He was a member of the SS. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, the Royal Neighbors and Local 1499 of the Firefighters Union.

Brown was involved in forming the local firefighters union and he served in every office of the union. He was awarded the Firefighter of the Year Award for 1978-1979 by the Jaycees. Brown also coached the Vikings in Young American Football for many years. He enjoyed working in his garden and fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Pauline of Rock Springs; his mother, Dolly Brown of Green River; one son, David John Brown of Rock Springs; one daughter and son-in-law, Terri and Kenneth nations of Rock Springs; one brother and sister-in-law, Theodore (Teddy) and Jean Brown of Rock Springs; three granddaughters, Amanda Joy Nations, Talitha Renee Nations and Kenneah Louise Nations, all of Rock Springs; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Brown was preceded in death by his father, David Brown, who died in May of 1968.

--Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner, Jan 6, 1996

Learn more about Herbert on the Firmage Family History website:

https://sites.google.com/site/firmagefamilyhistory/families/brown/herbert-james-brown.

Obituary - Pauline Mary Velikaneye Brown

Pauline Mary "Slim" Brown, 86, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, passed away peacefully at the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County on December 26, 2025 following a lengthy illness.

Pauline was born on July 8, 1939 in Golden, Colorado to Joseph Velikaneye and Louise (Ponzi) Velikaneye. She was the oldest child, and made sure everybody knew it too. In 1942, Pauline came to Rock Springs with her family and it remained her home for the rest of her life. She was a graduate of the Rock Springs High School class of 1957, and on December 4, 1958 she married Herbert “Bert” Brown in Evanston, Wyoming. In 1960, Pauline and Bert welcomed their oldest child, a daughter named Terri, and in 1962 they welcomed their youngest child, a son named David.

Following her marriage and the birth of her children, Pauline helped care for the apartments on 2nd Street with her husband, and they were known to be great landlords who cared not only for the building, but for their tenants as well. However, her most iconic occupation was as a Lunch Monitor/Lunch Lady at Lincoln Elementary school, where she held that title from 1969 until her retirement in 2001. During her time at Lincoln she became well-loved by students and staff alike, with former students and coworkers coming up to her to share their fond memories of “Mrs. Brown” whenever she or her family were spotted out in public. Pauline was also active in the PTA at Lincoln Elementary School from 1966 to 1972, where she helped plan many fundraisers, drives, and school events.

In life, Pauline helped care for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always mentioned that caring for them kept her young and on her feet, which is something that her family believes to be true. Pauline was also a vital part of the Holy Spirit Catholic Community. She loved doing things for the church, whether it be cleaning the sanctuary, working church events, washing purifiers, or taking communion to the sick or elderly who were not able to make it to Mass. She also loved to work in her garden in the warmer months, which is something that she graciously took over for her husband following his death in 1995.

She is survived by her daughter Terri Nations (Kenneth), son David Brown (Sam), grandchildren Amanda Nations-Silva (Lester), Talitha Laughlin (Ted), Kenneah Destefanis (Cory), Andi Nations, Gage Grantham-Christman (Jeff), Roman Beck (Brie), and Harmony Smith (Sean), great-grandchildren Jayces Blatter, Liberty Destefanis, Balthazar Nations, Teagan Blatter, Zyler Destefanis, Alera Johns, Brooklynn Destefanis, Selah Johns, Lyra Beck, Rinzai Beck, Eden Smith, and Bowen Smith, her youngest brother Paul Velikaneye (Linda), as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Pauline is preceded in death by her husband, Herbert “Bert” Brown, her parents Louise Myska and Joseph Velikaneye Sr., her step-father Stanley Myska, her younger brother Joseph Velikaneye Jr., younger sister Theresa Demas, and paternal and maternal grandparents.

The family respectfully requests donations be made in Pauline's memory to Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen, 644 Bridger Avenue, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901 or charity of your choice.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 A.M., Monday, January 5, 2026 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 116 Broadway Street, Rock Springs, Wyoming. Graveside Services and Interment will be in the Rock Springs Municipal Cemetery.

Learn more about Pauline on the Firmage Family History website:

https://sites.google.com/site/firmagefamilyhistory/families/velikaneye/pauline-mary-velikaneye.