By Watertown Current - December 29, 2025 in 
Veronica Belva Brown, 20, of Morris, Minn.
Funeral service for Veronica Belva Brown, age 20, of Morris, Minn. will be at Big Coulee District Center on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at 2 p.m. with CRE Gerald Heminger Jr. and Susie Amos officiating. Pianist will be Billy Kohl. Pallbearers: Prestin Brown, Henry Derks, Jerrell Lodge, Andy, Bryce and Quintin Redwing and Zion Zetina. Honorary pallbearers: Jillaina and Shelby Redwing, Jesyna Paul, Saraya Weddell, Allysa (Alyssa) Christianson, Adryauna Benting, Veronica Shortman, Angelina Zetina, Ivy Lewno and all Vees friends from UM Morris. Interment will be in the Big Coulee Ascension Presbyterian Cemetery, Big Coulee. The Cahill Funeral Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements.
Veronica Belva Brown was born on February 22, 2005, in Watertown to Rachael Redwing and Chad Brown. Veronica went to school in Watertown, Summit and Tiospa Zina. While at TZ she was in the Gifted/Talented program and made short videos with the movie company “On Native Ground” She graduated from Summit High School in 2023 as Salutatorian receiving high honors including an award from the National Honor Society. Veronica also enjoyed choir and had a beautiful voice; on occasion she sang the national anthem for the high school games. She was active in many of the high school activities despite her illness.
While still in high school, in the fall of 2020, Veronica was diagnosed with melanoma cancer, by 2023 the cancer advanced to stage four. This did not stop Veronica from pursuing an education. She applied for and was accepted to the University of Morris, Morris, Minn. to study psychology. Veronica received an offer of a four-year scholarship from UM Morris based on her high school grade point average; she received this at the highest tier awarded!
While at college Veronica met Ivy Lewno who became a best friend. They were roommates and shared much of college life together as well as nurturing their cats they considered family; they were later joined by cousin Jesyna Paul who assisted Vee in medical transport and companionship. Veronica also met Zion Zetina during this time. They quickly became best friends and began a relationship that will someday continue in heaven. Zion was a Godsend to Vee and all the family. Veronica was there for the birth of her nephew Camden and loved both Camden and Oliver as her own. In her second year at college, Veronica’s illness forced her to abandon college as she became too ill to attend classes. Veronica was the baby of the family and everyone’s baby sister; she is greatly missed by all who knew her. Veronica was a perfect shining star among us!
Veronica is survived by her parents, Rachael Redwing, Chad Brown of Texas, brothers, Prestin and Dominic Brown, sister Jerica Brown (Henry Derks). Grandmother Lizz Goodsell, Grandparents Richard and Fena Redwing, Uncles Darrick and Andy Redwing, Aunts Ramona Redwing, Sarah and Joanna Benting, Misty Tate and Tia Carroll, beloved cousins; Jesyna Paul, Jillaina Redwing, Jerrell Lodge, Quintin and Bryce (Shelby) Redwing; nephews Camden and Ollie Redwing, special forever friend Zion Zetina and fur babies – Hades and Onyx.
She was preceded in death by grandmothers Edna Bender, Vickie Redwing, Carla Brown, Juleen VanHunnik, Grandfathers Ron Goodsell and Clayton Redwing, maternal great grandparents Ray and Belva Hatle, paternal great grandmother Vernice White, Uncles Jeremy Carroll, Robert Bender and Aunt Nicole Parisien.
