Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Erayna "Cookie" Marie Kostrzab Brown cast off the shackles of this world on May 12, 2021, in Billings, Montana, after an arduous, two and a half month battle with covid pneumonia. She gets to be reunited with her parents, Bernard P. and Allegra E. (Nordstrom) Kostrzab, brother Martin L. Kostrzab, and sister Dianne A. Kostrzab.
Born June 21, 1949, in Duluth, Minnesota, she was welcomed by her twin brothers Ronald and Martin, and was followed by Dianne, Lynn, Carla (Iverson) and Chester Kostrzab. She grew up in Lakewood, MN, and attended Duluth's Central High School, graduating with the class of 1967. She married James M. Brown June 8, 1968, at North Shore Baptist Church. They made homes in Fort Rucker, AL, Eugene and Brownsville, OR, Lakewood, MN, Belfry and Livingston, MT, Alliance, NE, Greybull, WY and finally, in Manderson, Wyoming.
Cookie was active in the Manderson Homemakers Club, many bowling teams, the current one being Hake Reality Real Living, and the Wyoming State Quilt Guild. Her quilting stash grew exponentially while she worked at Big Horn Quilts until they closed. She was a prolific crafter and quilter, entering projects in local shows and fairs throughout the years and keeping loved ones warm and cozy with quilts, blankets and clothing. She enjoyed quilt retreats, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Left behind to rejoice at having had her in their lives are Jim Brown, her husband of 53 years, her children Gwen (Kevin) Winn of Vacaville, CA, Karie (Robert) Petrovich of Colville, WA, and Vance (Candi) Brown of Rozet, WY, and grandchildren Christopher Brown, Josh Smith, Isabella Maddox, Casey Brown, Caitlin Winn, Zane Veile, Rory Brown, Zachariah Winn, Logan Winn, Jedidiah Winn, Kiandra Petrovich, Rebekah Petrovich, Kaylah Petrovich and Josiah Petrovich. She delighted in having six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held June 19, 2021 at the Worland Community Center Complex, Worland, WY at 3:00. Please join us to share stories of love, laughter, and quirkiness.
