WIM Welcomes the Browns

Richard (“Dick”) and Helga (“Hazie”) Brown, of Sterling, VA, found a need for an Assistant Area Auditor on the Church’s “blue sheets” for senior missionaries. This assignment was a good fit for their experience and background, but they were surprised to discover the assignment in Trinidad was actually in the West Indies Mission.

Although Hazie Brown knew she would need to retire to serve a mission, she feels she will still be settling benefits claims for employees of the U. S. Forest Service where she is under contract until a week before they board the plane for the West Indies Mission! She has stepped down from her position twice, but continues to be “talked into coming back” – the last time in 2008 when the USFS convinced her to sign a contract. In her limited spare time, Sister Brown enjoys scrapbooking, photography, cross stitching and helping her husband with tiling and other handy-man jobs.

Dick Brown was employed by the U. S. Internal Revenue Service, the U. S. Navy and spent over 30 years with the United States General Accounting Office. At GAO, he was managed their internal finance, IT and administrative operations. Toward the end of his working life, he provided consultation and assistance to Congressional Appropriations and Oversight Committees where he directed financial management activities in the Legislative Branch of the Federal Government.

Elder Brown is a graduate of Weber State in Ogden, Utah “just shortly after Noah landed the ark,” he jokes. From Weber State, he attended law school, and did post graduate work at American University, the University of Maryland, Harvard, and Princeton, though “I never practiced laws – choosing instead a career in public service” where his legal training served him well in writing legislation for Congress. Despite osteoarthritis – which makes it difficult – Elder Brown still enjoys playing the piano and woodworking.

Although they are finding it difficult - as all senior couples do - to say goodbye to their 4 children and 7 grandchildren – including their oldest who is currently serving a mission in Malaysia - the Brown’s agree, “We look forward to a wonderful experience. We are excited about meeting new friends and learning new cultures. We want to use our experience and background to help in the West Indies Mission while we bear our testimonies and teach others the gospel .”