Wava Louise (Brown) Danbrook

Wava Danbrook, 89, longtime secretary and homemaker from Sweet Grass, died January 29, 2014, of natural causes at the Marias Care Center.  Visitation is Sunday, February 2, from 1:00– 3:00 pm at the Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby.  Funeral services are planned for Monday, February 3, at 2:00 pm at the Sunburst Lutheran Church with burial to follow in the Sunburst Cemetery.  The family suggests memorials be directed to the Lutheran Church of Sunburst or the Sweet Grass Legion Auxiliary.

Wava was born on February 23, 1924 to Claude and Beatrice (Panabaker) Brown on a farm east of Milk River, Alberta.  She joined three brothers and two sisters who were so happy to have a new baby sister.  She attended grade school and Earl Revis High School in Milk River then furthered her education in Lethbridge at the Garrbet Business College and in Calgary.  In February 1944 she accepted a job in Coutts with Independent Customs House Broker Alice Thresher Hunt where she worked until May 1944.

In the fall of 1944, Wava met the love of her life, Melvin Danbrook of Sweet Grass.  He had just returned home after spending 26 months on the islands of Adak and Otoo in Alaska with the US Army Corps of Engineers.  After a short leave he was sent to Louisiana and the islands of Saipan and Tinnian.  He received his honorable discharge at St Louis in the fall of 1945.  It was then he returned home and on May 17, 1946, he and Wava were married at the Sunburst Lutheran Church.  They were blessed with four children – Gary, Glenda, Nancy and Melva.

They farmed on the Indian reservation north of Cut Bank with brothers Troy and Stan for 8 years beginning in the spring of 1947.  They moved to Sweet Grass in 1954 and owned and operated the Phillips 66 service station.  When the Interstate highway was built, they sold the business but continued to live in Sweet Grass.  In 1963 Wava accepted a job with the Norman G Jensen Custom House Brokerage where she worked for 23 years retiring in 1985.

Wava and Melvin spent several years traveling to Arizona in the winter.  They also traveled to Michigan mostly spending time with their families and making wonderful memories.

Melvin entered the Marias Care Center in Shelby in April 2010 and Wava moved to Shelby to be near her husband.  They celebrated their 64 th wedding anniversary in May at the nursing home.  Melvin passed away in December that same year.

Wava was a member of the Lutheran Church in Sunburst and Border Post #73 Legion Auxiliary in Sweet Grass.

Wava is survived by her children, Gary (Louella) Danbrook of Michigan, Glenda Timerson of Great Falls, Nancy (John) Simmes of Sunburst, and Melva (John) Foster of St Xavier; sister, Doris Barker; ten grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.    She is preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Cecil, Walter and Marshall; sister Jeannie; and grandson Joseph Gasvoda.

My dear precious family, always remember this: A mother’s love never dies. Always trust in God – walking by faith can carry you far.