David Kent Brown

David Kent Brown returned to his Heavenly Father’s embrace on January 25, 2022. He was born April 9, 1931, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Oliver Brown and Alice Goldberg Brown where he was raised with his older brother, Richard (Dick).

Dave grew up exploring his “neighborhood” from Sugarhouse to Parley’s Canyon. As a young boy he learned independence as he played throughout the area, discovering boyhood wonders such as Suicide Rock, Castle Rock, an abandoned mine up the canyon, and roaming the fields and garden surrounding the old Utah State Prison in Sugarhouse. He and his friends would work for days building a dam across the creek to create a swimming hole. They were never very deep but on a hot summer day the water felt good. Dave loved his dog, Buck. A boy and his dog could not have had a better place to grow up.

As a young boy Dave sold magazine subscriptions, worked in a furniture factory, mowed lawns, made ice cream treats while working as a soda jerk and was a bus boy. Later, he learned carpentry as he assisted his brother on many building projects. He learned the special satisfaction in a job well done.

The Boy Scouts held a special place in Dave’s heart, as a youth and later as Scoutmaster and Merit Badge Counselor. He gathered his friends and organized Troop 78, which they named “The Hawk Patrol.” Without much direction from a scout master, they simply used the Scout Manual for direction, and inspiration seemed to follow. He loved attending the summer camps at Camp Tracy Wigwam in Mill Creek Canyon and Camp Steiner in the High Uintah Mountains. Dave was considered a tough Merit Badge Counselor in later years as he helped many young men understand the importance of citizenship in our nation.

Following graduation from South High, Dave spent one year of school at the University of Utah before enlisting in the Utah Air National Guard 130th AC&W Squadron during the Korean War. He was deployed to Olathe, Kansas to study radar electronics.

While on home for leave, he married his sweetheart, Montez Brian, in the Salt Lake Temple on November 9, 1951. Dave and Montez returned to Kansas where they lived throughout his enlistment. Dave loved to share how he was assigned to be a bartender at the base officers’ club, and it was the only time they ever turned a profit, as he was both honest and a non-drinker. He learned he could tear it up on the football field as he played defensive end for his base. After Dave was discharged from the Air Force he continued his studies at the University of Utah, where he completed his undergraduate degree, as well as a master’s degree in business.

Soon after graduating college, Dave and Montez moved to Southern California. Dave first worked in a bank, then for many years at William H. Rorer, Inc. as a pharmaceutical representative, district manager, and regional sales manager. He was eventually promoted to the home office in Pennsylvania as Director of Trade Relations. They loved their years in Pennsylvania, where they developed many life-long relationships and created wonderful family memories visiting historical sights and camping throughout the Northeast.

Years later, after moving back to Utah, Dave started his own company, Deseret Biologicals, Incorporated, where he employed a lifetime of business and sales acumen to build a very successful company. Being back in Utah also gave Dave an opportunity to frequently visit the beautiful Uinta Mountains where he introduced his grandchildren to his love of fishing.

With all his accomplishments nothing meant more to him than his family. Dave was preceded in death by his wife Montez in 1995, after which he cared for his mother in his home for a decade until her death at the age of 100. Following his mother’s death, Dave met Ruthie Krieger from Maryland and they were married in the Washington DC Temple on May 5, 2006. Ruthie has been a blessing in Dave’s life, as they have enjoyed each other’s companionship. Ruthie has selflessly cared for Dave these past few years as he struggled with health issues.

Throughout his adult life, Dave served wholeheartedly in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a bishop and high counselor in Pennsylvania and as stake mission president in Southern California. Dave and Ruthie served as senior missionaries in the Salt Lake Inner-City Mission and requested extensions as they faithfully served. Dave was able to put his gardening skills to work as he developed and managed a large and productive stake garden in Riverton, sharing produce with many Inner-City families in need.

Dave is survived by his wife Ruthie; his four children and their spouses, Stephen David (Sue), Vanet (Charles) Castleberry, Susan (Robert) Oldroyd, Patrick Mark (Kristin), 14 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and many relatives and friends. During the 15 years of his life with Ruthie, Dave developed tender, caring relationships with Ruthie’s children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 5, at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E Dimple Dell Road (10600 S), Sandy, UT 84092. A viewing will be held the night before, Friday, February 4, 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the same location, as well as prior to funeral services beginning 10:00 Saturday morning at the mortuary. Interment to follow at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery in Sandy, Utah.

To view the previously held funeral services, please click the "Watch Services" link above.