Sophie L (Schmidt) Brown

Sophie L. Brown, 86, died on Saturday (Sept. 4, 2010) at her North Newton residence.

Sophie was born on April 19, 1924, in Goessel to Simon F. and Margaret (Unruh) Schmidt.
She graduated from Goessel High School and Bethel College. She married Roland P. Brown in 1948, and he survives at the home. Sophie was a lifelong teacher and served missionary service beside her husband for many years in Taiwan. While in Taiwan, she raised her own family while serving the community working at the hospital where her husband was serving. She was instrumental in starting the Hualien Christian School with two other mothers to educate their children. As her family grew, she was instrumental in starting a kindergarten and also counseled unwed mothers. Sophie’s counseling was very rewarding. She continued to educate herself at Arizona State University and Wichita State University in the field of counseling and special education. With this education, she worked at New Dawn Developmental Center with developmentally handicapped children and their teachers in Taiwan for nearly 10 years. She retired from missionary service along with her husband in 1990 after a long, rewarding service. Family was very important to Sophie, and she greatly looked forward to spending time with her loving family and many friends. She and her husband returned to Taiwan from 1993 to 1995, and they also enjoyed a trip to China.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Roland P. Brown of North Newton; two sons, Clifford Brown of Tulsa and G. Keith Brown of Taipei, Taiwan; daughter, Carol Ann Fynan of Montgomery, Ala.; brother, Randolph Schmidt of Goessel; sister, Alda M. Wedel of Hesston; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Sophie was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Lester F. Schmidt.

Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Friday, with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton. Memorial contributions may be left with The Brown Scholarship Fund at Associated Mennonite Seminary or the New Dawn School in Taiwan, Bethel College Mennonite Church or New Dawn School for the Developmentally Disabled, in care of Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N. Main St., Newton, KS 67114.