Memorial services for Laura J. Browne, 75, formerly of Cedar Rapids, who died Thursday, April 14, 2005, at the Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 16 in the Gable Chapel at the First United Methodist Church in Indianola, with Rev. Skip Rushing officiating. Burial of cremains will be in the Spring Grove Cemetery near Covington, Iowa.

Laura was born in Sioux City, Iowa, to Mardis and Carma Thompson. She spent her early childhood in a sod house on the high plains near Stoneham, Colorado. Her family later operated small-town telephone offices in Derby, DeSoto and Dumont. She graduated from Dumont High School, received a B.A. in English from Simpson College in Indianola, and did postgraduate work at the University of Iowa. She was a copyreader, proofreader, or a copy editor for The Record-Herald and Indianola Tribune, Meredith Publishing Company, University publications department in Iowa City, and Collins Radio Co. publications in Cedar Rapids. She then worked free-lance more than 40 years up until the time of her death.

From 1971, she was active in historic preservation. With her husband, she was a founding member of May's Island chapter of Questers in Cedar Rapids and a member of Three Rivers Questers in Indianola. She worked 30 years with Seminole Valley Farm in Cedar Rapids including two terms as president; chaired five restorations at Usher's Ferry and one at Seminole Farm, and served on the county review board for historical grants. With her husband as photographer, she produced the historical presentation for Seminole used on farm tours. She also wrote opinion columns for The Gazette.

Laura was married August 4, 1957 to James Lee Browne of Dubuque, who preceded her in death in 1985.

She is survived by one son, Scott and his wife, Dana of Westmont, IL, and one grandson, Austin James. Also surviving are a sister-in-law, Barbara Van Sickle and her husband, Marvin of Indianola and eight nephews and nieces.

Memorials may be given to the Seminole Valley Farm Educational Endowment Fund, Box 605, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406.