Elizabeth Brookhart Anderson

Elizabeth Brookhart Anderson of Washington D.C.; Genesee, CO; and Ponte Vedra Beach, FL passed away peacefully at the age of 92 at her Florida home on May 24, 2023. She graduated from Iowa State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics and fell in love with Byron Richard Anderson, of Crosby, North Dakota, to whom she was married for 53 years. Together they had a family and traveled the world, living in Montana, California, Alaska, Colorado, Texas, Wyoming, and London, England during Byron’s 33 years as a petroleum geophysicist with Mobil Oil Company. In memory of her beloved husband, Elizabeth gifted the Elizabeth and Byron Anderson Sculpture Garden to Iowa State University upon Byron’s passing in 2004. Elizabeth and Byron were married on February 10, 1951 at St. Albans Episcopal Church on the grounds of the National Cathedral in D.C. They honeymooned in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and returned to find their dream retirement home there in 1999.

Elizabeth was born in Washington, D.C. on April 17, 1931 to Lt. Col. Smith Brookhart, Jr. and Elizabeth Waller Brookhart. Her father, Lt. Col. Brookhart, worked at the Pentagon and was also the assistant trial counsel for the prosecution at the Nuremberg War Trials. Her grandfather Smith Brookhart Sr. served as a U.S. Senator from Iowa for two terms between 1922 and 1933.

At Woodrow Wilson High School, Elizabeth was part of the Glee Club, yearbook advertising staff, and the cheerleading team. In California she continued her love for singing in the church choir and a local group called the "Mother Singers". At Iowa State she pledged Pi Beta Phi sorority, excelled in extracurricular dance classes, and continued cheerleading. In fact, she never put down her pom poms–as she became the ultimate cheerleader at her grandchildren's activities and sporting events. She was known to pause her cheering for only one thing: a hot dog at baseball games.

This spirited, caring, witty woman will be dearly missed by her family and friends. She was a great conversationalist, had many opinions and always had the best retorts, including her famous ‘hey-rahs!’. Her indomitable spirit kept her mind sharp until the very end. You needed to allow 30-45 minutes for any conversation with her and she could discuss current news as well as tell amazing stories from her past. During her years living in London, she developed a taste for antiquing, a good cup of tea and all things British. She moved a lot, she loved a lot, and she laughed a lot.

Elizabeth is survived by her three children, Byron (Sharron) Anderson of Austin, TX; Betty (Mark) Ehrhart of Golden, CO; and Arthur (Rebecca) Andersson also of Austin. She was a loving grandmother to ten grandchildren, Bret, Faith, Nick, Sparky, Amy, Kirk, Greg, Lily, William, and Henry, as well as a proud great-grandmother to eleven great-grandchildren. She also leaves one sister, Susan Miller of Lakewood, CO; twin brothers Ned Brookhart of Lexington, KY and Ted Brookhart of Cave Creek, AZ; and sister-in-law Gail Brookhart of Tulsa, OK. She was preceded in death by her brother William Waller Brookhart in 1936. A celebration of Elizabeth’s life will be held on June 8th, 2024 at 11am at Crown Hill Mortuary in Lakewood, Colorado.