Harriette Virginia Brownell

Harriette Virginia Brownell passed away peacefully on Aug. 15, 2011, with her loving son, William Beresford Brownell, at her side.

Harriette was born on March 23, 1914, in Virginia City. She was the daughter of Charles S. and Nellie C. Baker. After her mother's death when she was still an infant, the family (father Charles, grandmother Ella Cole and the three children, Kenneth, Dorothy and Harriette) moved to Whitehall, where they lived for a number of years. Later, while living in Ennis, Harriette met Ralph A. Brownell. They were married in Butte on July 13, 1934, and had 63 happy years together until his death in 1997. Their son, William B. Brownell, was born in 1946. Ralph worked for the Montana Power Company and they moved around the state until 1951, when they settled in Billings.

Harriette enjoyed tennis, skiing, golf, fishing and hunting, and loved her dogs. She was a member of St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Yellowstone Racquet and Health Club, Billings Rod & Gun Club, Elks and Yellowstone Historical Society.

Survivors include her son and his wife, William and Maureen Brownell of Los Angeles; niece Patricia Hart of St. George, Utah; nephews Charles Tolson, Clancy, Xon and Marc Baker, Everett, Wash., and Kirk Baker of Aspen, Colo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 1241 Crawford Drive, Billings, MT 59102; or Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter, 1735 Monad Road, Billings, MT 59102.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, Aug. 19, at 3 p.m., at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 1241 Crawford Drive.