Harold J. “Harry” Brown, 86, of Faribault, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2026. A lifelong Rice County resident, Harry was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose life was shaped by his enduring loves of family, cars, golf, and his farming roots.
Harry was born May 9, 1940, in Shieldsville Township, the youngest of nine children of Edward and Catherine Brown. He grew up on the family farm in Shieldsville and graduated from Bethlehem Academy in 1958. After high school, he served briefly in the Navy. He liked to joke that the Navy had promised he would see the world, but he only made it as far as the East Coast.
In the summer of 1964, Harry met LaNaya Dudley—with a little help from a red Cutlass convertible. They married on August 14, 1965, at Immaculate Conception Church in Faribault. Together, they built a life centered on family, hard work and their community.
Harry’s lifelong enthusiasm for automobiles became his livelihood when he joined Lockwood Motors in1964. In 1968, he opened Holiday Cars with one employee in a two-room log house on Highway 21. From those modest beginnings, the business steadily grew. Holiday Cars moved to Highway 60 in 1978; Harry added the Dodge franchise in 1981, Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Cadillac in 1982, and GMC Truck in 1986, when a new facility opened on Highway 60. Chevrolet, Buick, Chrysler and Jeep followed in 2001. ABRA Auto Body and Faribault Tire were added in later years.
Harry took great pride not only in the growth of Harry Brown’s, but also in the people who made it possible. He was especially proud to see the second and third generations of his family carry the business forward.
Harry cared deeply about Faribault and its young people, enthusiastically supporting local athletics. Over the years, he sponsored numerous teams and events, including the Holiday Classic basketball tournaments in the 1990s. In recognition of his decades of support, he was inducted into the Faribault Booster Hall of Fame. Harry and LaNaya are members of the Founders Society of the Faribault Foundation and support a scholarship at South Central College. A longtime member of the Faribault Golf Club, he loved the game of golf and the friendships that came from it.
Harry is survived by LaNaya, his wife of 61 years. Children Lisa Young, Mike (Christine) Brown, Steve (Rebecca) Brown and Greg (Lily) Brown. Grandchildren Hailey (Luke) Swedberg, Lucas Reppe, Erica (Tyler) Jakes, Michael (Sarah) Brown, Connor Brown, Jeb (Madison) Brown, Griffin Reppe, Aubrey Brown, Kayla Brown, Vincente Brown, Abraham Brown, Nick (Teadora) Young, Megan (Christopher) Moore, Ramsey (Taylor) Shaffer and Sawyer Shaffer. Great-grandchildren Reghan Shankey, Hayden Shankey, Oaklynn Swedberg, Beau Swedberg, Eliza Jakes, Annalee Jakes, Isabelle Jakes, Miles Brown, Reed Brown, baby boy Brown expected in February, and Samuel Moore.
He was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Catherine, parents-in-law Beverley and Vince Dudley, siblings Helen Kaderlik, Ralph Brown, Don Brown, Dorothy Touchstone, Rich Brown, Cyril Brown, Stella Brown and Irene Miller, and son-in-law Dave Young.
Harry’s family is deeply grateful to the caring staff at Mill City Senior Living for the kindness, respect, and comfort they provided him. Their dedication brought peace to the family during a difficult time.
Visitation will be held Thursday, November 19, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault. Private family services will be held in Shieldsville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Faribault Foundation, Bethlehem Academy, or a charitable organization of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault.
