Jesse Sale Brown

Jesse Sale Brown, 84, of Sugar City, Idaho, passed away on September 6, 2026, following a brief illness. Jess was born October 19, 1941, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Moroni Harold and Cherry Virginia Sale Brown. He grew up in the Salt Lake area and graduated from East High School in Salt Lake. He then graduated from Dixie Junior College and went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Utah, followed by another master’s degree from Brigham Young University. During the Vietnam War, he served in the U.S. Army as a biological science research assistant at the 6th Army Medical Laboratory in Fort Baker, California.

After his military service, while in graduate school at the University of Utah, he met Virginia Elizabeth Newman of Holladay, Utah, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 18, 1969. Together they were blessed with six children: Alison Douglass (Michael), Sugar City, Idaho; Heidi Glyn Jensen (Mike), Sugar City, Idaho; Kimball Ellis Brown (Valentina Lalovska), Williamsburg, Virginia; Brittany Daw (Scott), Riverton, Utah; Hilary Claire Brown, Chicago, Illinois; and Kyle McKay Brown (Linzi Gerlach), Vicenza, Italy. Jess and Virginia are Opa and Omi to 18 wonderful grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, five bonus grandchildren, three bonus great-grandsons, plus numerous children- and grandchildren-in-law — all of whom he loves with all of his heart. His home was also open to countless exchange students, friends, visitors, and guests from all around the world.

Professionally, Jess was a public-school teacher and administrator before he accepted a position at Ricks College, where he worked for 27 years, serving as the Director of Student Housing and then the Director of Student Activities. He loved working with students as they developed leadership skills and gained experience while organizing and offering activities for the student body, including performances, dances, parties and other social events, sports competitions, outdoor activities, travel, and leadership conferences. He also taught classes in personal development. Jess oversaw an exciting expansion of the student activities program during the transition from Ricks College to Brigham Young University-Idaho. He loved Brigham Young University-Idaho and relished working closely with students, administrators, teachers, and other employees.

Sugar City was an ideal community for Jess and his family, where they lived for almost 50 years. He served on the planning and zoning commission and also turned the property behind their house into a little mini-farm with a couple of goats and a small flock of chickens. He found great satisfaction in providing fresh goat milk and eggs, always freely and generously given, to many friends and neighbors. His enthusiasm and genuine care for others were evident in all his interactions.

Jess served in many capacities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a two-year mission for the Church in the North-East British Mission (1961–63). After retiring from BYU-Idaho, Jess and Virginia served for two years as Church Education System missionaries in San Diego, California, where they helped initiate the Pathway Program. They also loved serving in the Rexburg Idaho Temple from the time it opened. Jess believed, though, that his most important church callings were as a husband, a father, and a grandfather. He loved the scripture in 3 John 1:4: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” His wife, children, grandchildren, and friends knew his devotion to gospel principles and his constant desire to serve the Lord and show love to everyone he met.

Jess is survived by his brothers Adam (Helene) of Syracuse, Utah; Daniel (Cynthia) of Pea Green Corner, Colorado; Lynn of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Matthew (Barbara) of Park City, Utah. He was preceded in death by his parents, Moroni H. Brown and Cherry Sale Brown; his sister, Janet Brown Lear (Phillip); and his brother, Dwight (Opal).

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m.Thursday, September 10, 2026 at the gray church in Sugar City.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to services.  Interment will be in the Sugar City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, as Opa would have wanted, please make a donation to a favorite charity—and then go make a new friend.