Ralph Brown

January 25, 1960 - August 11, 2014

Ralph Browning Brown, 54 of Springville Utah, Born Jan 25 1960, Twin Falls, Idaho, passed on to his next adventure, on Aug 11, 2014 , after a wicked encounter with pancreatic cancer. Survived by Spouse - Jerilyn Muhlestein Brown, Daughters - Nicole M, Aisha M and Jessica M Brown, Parents - Boyd H & Charilla B Brown, Siblings - Steven (Kaylene), Dennis (Janice) & Harvey (Kristina) Brown. Parent’s in law - Gerald R and L Marolyn Muhlestein. Siblings – in – law – Russell (Debbie), Robert (Maralee) Muhlestein. Share in “A Celebration of Ralph B Brown’s Life” on Saturday, August 23, 2014 at the Hobble Creek Stake Center, 495 S Canyon Dr Springville, Utah 84663 at 10:00 am. Immediately after serving BYU Creamery Ice Cream during a guest/family greeting time 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. Life Sketch of Ralph Browning Brown Being born the fourth and final son (to this point) of Boyd Hayes & Charilla B. Brown, in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Jan 25, 1960, I entered this world. Moved to Logan, Utah at the age of two. Attended Wilson elementary where I was the worst little league baseball player on the face of the earth. I was not put in the rigorous courses throughout my illustrious jr high career and both the teachers and the students frequently queried “why is he in this class”? I didn’t know any better, but knew I could memorize easily. I could see in my mind’s eye where a passage was on a page or feel where it was physically at in a book. I Graduated from Logan High School in 1978. And while enjoying a variety of activities such as track, cross-country, wrestling and football, etc., my focus was on my friendships. Served in the LDS Indonesian Jakarta mission from Feb 1979 - 1981. Learned fairly quickly that this was a good thing to share and just as importantly that it was not for everyone. Learned to study academically/conceptually during this time. While others were taking the 5 hour Siangan (siesta), I would study, which in this case meant reading, due to the facts there were only a few guides at my disposal. After returning home, I attended LDS Institute at Utah State University, then became a student at USU. Married Jerilyn Muhlestein on June 5, 1984 in the Logan, Utah Temple. Worked at Schreiber’s cheese for 6 years. Graduated with minors in Anthropology, Philosophy and Indonesian, and a BA, 1986 and MS, 1988, both in Sociology from USU. Moved to Columbia, Missouri to pursue a Ph.D. Nicole Muhlestein Brown was born on June 2, 1989. I graduated with a joint Ph.D in Rural Sociology/ Sociology in 1992 from University of Missouri – Columbia. Took a job at Mississippi State University, in Starkville, where I was appointed graduate coordinator and tenured & promoted to associate professor. During my 6 year sojourn at MSU, Aisha Muhlestein Brown was born on Feb. 21, 1994, and Jessica Muhlestein Brown was born on Dec. 2, 1996. Then I started a job at Brigham Young University (1998-2014) re-tenured in 2001, promoted to Full Professor in 2005, and was Graduate Coordinator from 2002-2007. Alcuin Award, BYU 2005. As Director of International Development Minor Internships 2003-2013, I started taking university students study abroad, during the summer of 2004. This began as a 3 month adventure to Thailand and South East Asia, which my whole family had the opportunity to travel with me. For 10 years this continued, adding internships to Jordan, and Cambodia. I was also Director of the BYU International Development Minor 2003-2013. Besides Traveling extensively throughout SE Asia, I frequented Jordan, South America, Africa, and India. Was appointed Executive Director/treasure of the Rural Sociology Society 2009-2014. I was major advisor for 6 Ph.D dissertations, 16 Masters Thesis and 7 undergraduate honors Theses. Loved to travel and meet new people while experiencing new cultures. I helped my wife and father in law Gerald Muhlestein build my home in Springville in 2001. While there are going to be things I will miss in the future, I have no regrets – you can’t regret what you haven’t done. I gathered many friends and colleagues along my journey here in this life. And now am off to another adventure. I love and appreciate my family and all your friendships! I just want to be remembered as a nice person.