Stephen R. Brown was born on March 3, 1926. He was a lifelong Sycamore resident and founder of Brown's Supermarket in Sycamore, IL.

Stephen married Betty Louise Castenson on June 2, 1956. The couple had four children, Stephen, Daniel, Roberta, and Donald. 

In his memory after his death in 1999, Stephen's wife established the Stephen R. and Betty L. Brown Endowment Fund at the DeKalb County Community Foundation. This Community Impact Fund allows the Community Foundation to give where the need is most and support a variety of grantmaking programs through grantmaking.

Betty passed away on July 27, 2011, and their Fund now serves as a memorial to the loving couple.