Miriam Caroline (Leach) Brower

Miriam Caroline (Leach) Brower, 108, of Arnold, went to be with her Lord Jesus on Feb. 4, 2015.

Miriam was born Nov. 11, 1906, to John Robert Leach and Alice Marinda (Lawyer) Leach at Emmett, Idaho. Growing up, she lived with her parents and six brothers in Wyoming, Nebraska, and then South Dakota, where she graduated from high school.

She then went to Dakota Wesleyan College in Mitchell, S.D., and after passing her teacher’s exam, began teaching school, until her marriage. In 1927, Miriam met Gerrit Richard Brower through two of her brothers, and they were married a year later on May 22, 1928. They were blessed with seven living children, Ruth, Dorothy, Melvin, Muriel, Gerald, Janette, and Larry, and lost twins, Lowell and Lorraine, at birth.

After her children were gone, Miriam provided child care for several years for Carol Crosland. Throughout her life, Miriam always attended church. In 1943, she joined the Arnold Church of the Nazarene, where she served in various capacities over the years. When interviewed later in life, she attributed her longevity to being happy and going to church and Sunday School.

She was one of five centenarians, ages 107-109, still living in Nebraska, as of November, 2014.

She is survived by daughter, Ruth Yanken of Arnold, daughter, Muriel (Bob) Boggs of Roseburg, Ore., daughter, Janette (Duane) Patterson of Murrietta, Calif., and son, Larry (Linda) Brower of Kimball; son-in-law Norris Gill of Spring Valley, Calif .; daughters-in-law Charlene Brower of Los Osos, Calif., and Starlyne Brower of Colorado Springs, Colo .; 19 grandchildren: Ray Gill, Ron Gill, Rhonda Shepherd, Rogene Lowe, Charmel Pavlich, Renee Cunningham, Craig Brower, Mike Brower, Rick Brower, Bruce Boggs, Brian Boggs, Colleen Lindsay, Melanie Qualls, Johnna Robinson, Brenda LaMont, Brent Patterson, Jodi Eggering, Brad Brower and Kurt Brower; 50 great-grandchildren; 28 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Miriam was preceded in death by her parents, John and Alice; her husband, Gerrit; her brothers and spouses, Milton and Viola, Conrad and Mildred, John (Jack) and Edna, Robert and Margaret, Charles and Marjorie and William; three of her seven children, daughter, Dorothy, and sons, Melvin and Gerald; son-in-law, Kenneth Yanken and daughter-in-law, Marlene Brower; and granddaughter, Shirley Ruth Yanken.

Visitation was held Sunday, Feb. 15, from 3-7 p.m. at the Arnold Funeral Home. Services were held Monday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Arnold. Burial followed in the Arnold Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Arnold Church of the Nazarene.

Arnold Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.