Jan Brown

Janice Marie (Knudson) Brown of Bismarck passed away on November 12, 2023.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, Nov. 18, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.

Family will begin greeting guests one hour prior to the service.

Burial will take place at 10:00 AM, Saturday, Nov. 25, at Riverside Cemetery, Fargo.

Jan was born in El Paso, Texas December 31, 1945, to Darrell and Lorine (Finneman) Knudson.  Her family moved to Fergus Falls, MN where she spent the next 10 years.  She then moved to Richardton and graduated from Richardton High School in 1963.  She attended NDSU and while there she met the love of her life, Phillip Robert Brown.  They married in 1967 and moved to California.  Her son, Paul David, was born in 1968 and her daughter, Tracy Marie, in 1969.  They moved back to Fargo in 1971 to be closer to family.  In a move that was unusual for her time, Jan returned to college as a non-traditional student to complete her teaching degree and graduated from MSU in 1982.  Jan was known for her volunteering in the community such as tutoring, puppeteering to educate others about disabled children, girl scout leader, and church.  Jan loved her family, children, dogs, and birds.  She enjoyed reading, crafts, gardening, and traveling.  Jan was a fashion icon and started the trend with Birkenstocks in the early 70’s.  Not only was she a fashionista, her home design coordinated colors to create a welcoming space for family and friends.  Throughout her life Jan had a deep faith.  Her faith provided her support and strength through her battle with cancer. 

Jan is survived by her sister, Kathy Knudson, brothers, Bill (Cindi), Bruce (Debbie), and Marty (Carrie) Knudson, children, Paul (Cerise) Brown and Tracy (Jay) Krog, grandchildren, Seth (Lisa) Brown, Fenn Brown, Sabrie (Jackson) Miller, Dawson (Shelby) Krog, and Olivia Krog, and her great-grandchildren, Rory and Callum Brown and Maria Miller. 

Jan was preceded in death by Phil, her husband of 48 years, her parents, Darrell and Lorine Knudson, her in-laws, Robert and Darlene Brown, and granddaughter, Arianne.

Memorials in Jans name can be made to Seeds of Hope Thrift Store, 520 E Main Ave, Bismarck, or the Ronald McDonald House Charities, 609 N 7th St, Bismarck.