William "Bill" O. Brown was born December 23, 1926, to Arthur C. and Viola Sowden Brown. Arthur (A.C.) was born in Minnesota and came to Pillsbury, North Dakota, to work in a bank. Viola was a Pillsbury native and after they were married they lived in Luverne. In 1927, they moved to Hannaford to organize the Security State Bank of Hannaford. Bill was the second son to be born to them. His brother, Clinton, is two years older.
Bill began working in the bank as a janitor at the age of 14. He graduated from Hannaford High School in 1943, and then entered the Army in the spring of 1945. He was discharged in the fall of 1946.
Bill married Lauretta Kramvik, the daughter of John and Lydia Kramvik of Cooperstown, North Dakota, on November 12, 1946. She was a secretary and sales clerk in Cooperstown and Fargo. Bill graduated from Dakota Business College in 1948, and returned to Hannaford to work at Security State Bank. Four children were born to this union. Cheryl was born January 14, 1948, and is married to Steven Steinborn, president of Security Insurance Agency. They live in Wimbledon and have four children. John, born June 4, 1950, is president of Farmers and Merchants Bank of Wimbledon, North Dakota. He married Nancy Jennings Brown and they live in Wimbledon with their three children. Alan was born on June 12, 1952. He is the owner of Fargo Fireplace/Four Seasons Greenhouses. He lives in Fargo with his wife, Bonnie. MacDonald Brown and their three children. Mark was born October 26, 1953, and is president of Security State Bank of Hannaford. He married Marlys Gronneberg Brown and they have two children. Of the 12 grandchildren there is one boy and 11 girls.
Viola Brown, Bill's mother, died in 1956. Bill's father, A. C. Brown, passed away in 1974. Bill's wife, Lauretta, died June 2, 1982, of cancer.
Bill continues to reside in Hannaford. He married Lois LaPlant Wakefield, daughter of Bruce and Edna LaPlant of Binford in 1983. Lois was a former home economics teacher and medical records administrator. She has three children. John, born March 14, 1959, lives in Cooperstown and is a spray pilot and manager of the airport. Charles, born March 9, 1961, is currently a law student. Dawn, born February 25, 1964, is a nurse in Tempe, Arizona.
Bill retired as president of Security State Bank of Hannaford and Farmers and Merchants Bank of Wimbledon in 1988. He is currently chairman of the board for both banks. He and wife, Lois, spend part of the winter in Mesa, Arizona, and summer weekends at their cabin at Red Willow lake.
After many years of banking, Bill is trying to learn hobbies to relax with. One of these is golf and another gardening. He continues his interest in community projects and is an active member of Faith Lutheran Church.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 98