Charleen "Babe" Brox, 88, of Grand Forks, N.D., and formerly of Crosby, N.D., passed away Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, at her home in Parkwood Place in Grand Forks.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Crosby, with Pastor Rob Garton officiating. Burial will follow at Concordia Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at Stakston-Martin Funeral Home in Crosby and also Thursday, one hour before the service, in the church.

Charleen Roseann Atherton was born March 15, 1921, in Valley City, N.D., the daughter of Charles Arthur and Evelyn Edith (Gaylord) Atherton. She was raised and educated in Valley City and graduated from Valley City High School. She went on to Valley City State College and Mayville State College, receiving a bachelor of science degree in education.

Charleen married Albert Ernest Brox on April 5, 1942, Easter Sunday, at Epworth Methodist Church in Valley City. She taught private piano lessons for many years and was an elementary teacher in Upbridge Consolidated Schools from 1941 to 1942 and at Crosby Elementary from 1966 to 1986.

Babe and Ernie had two children, Vicki and Jana. As a family, they moved to Crosby in 1946, where Babe lived until 2006, when she moved to Grand Forks.

Babe became a member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Crosby in 1958, where her membership remained. Babe was a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, Clionian Society (Valley City State), Dames of the Round Table Study Club, Concordia Lutheran Matthew Bible Study and W.E.L.C.A., Parish, Pew and Pulpit, Women of the Moose, Hospital Auxiliary, NEA/NDEA and was a Girl Scout leader for several years.

She was known as "Sunshine Lady" for WOTM, as correspondent for the organization. She enjoyed writing letters and kept in touch with many people. Babe and Ernie spent summers at their lake home near Ely, Minn., for 26 years and also took many trips to be with family and friends over the years. She especially enjoyed being with her grandchildren.

Babe was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ernie; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and many dear friends.

She is survived by: her daughters, Vicki (David) Hermans and Jana (Allen) Dittmer; grandchildren, Brent Hermans, Valerie (Alex) Heigaard and David Dittmer.

Stakston-Martin Funeral Home of Crosby is in charge of arrangements.