Elizabeth B Brandson

Elizabeth (Betty) Bailey Brandson, a 40-year resident of Amador County, died Feb. 10 at her home in Pine Grove. She had faced increasing health challenges since suffering a stroke in May. Born in Deadwood, South Dakota in 1924, her family moved to Illinois where she completed school, serving as valedictorian of her high school graduating class. She earned an accounting degree from Bradley University in Illinois and was listed in the "Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities." She made dear friends at Bradley who have remained in close contact over the last seven decades. She was an accountant for 30 years, first working in Chicago and then relocating to Los Angeles with the prestigious Arthur Andersen firm. She joined the Bowes Company, then the largest independent advertising agency in Los Angeles, as an accountant in the mid-1960s. There she met Bob Brandson, president of the agency, and they were married in 1967. Betty admitted she was reluctant to leave their lovely beach home, friends and activities in Los Angeles when Bob encouraged a move to Amador County in 1974. Once here, she joined the Newcomers' Club, and established A-1 Bookkeeping Service in downtown Jackson. She recalled recently how grateful she was for her life in Amador County. "I learned to ski, we loved the outdoors, we made wonderful friends, and I was able to earn my pilot's license," she said. "It's the best thing we ever could have done." Bob became a Realtor, was a founding partner of Mother Lode Realty, and Betty was involved in many business events. She and Bob traveled to locations around the world, including China and Russia. An active member of the Amador County Chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Betty helped with the initial home tours that have become an annual tradition. After earning her pilot's license, she was very involved with the Gold Dust Chapter of the 99's. Membership in Trinity Episcopal Church in Sutter Creek was an important part of Betty's life. She enjoyed her volunteer work at the Thrift Store, and her wide circle of friends made through Trinity's social and religious activities including Pam Afindios of Pine Grove. Pam assisted Betty during Bob's terminal illness in 2004, became her close friend and in recent years devoted caregiver. Bob and Betty's home in Pine Grove was a center for the Brandson family. Betty became an instant "bonus mom" to three grown children with her marriage to Bob, and subsequently was a loving grandmother and great grandmother. Betty's "bonus kids" of almost 50 years include Kelli Belt (Errol) of Granite Bay, Kim Brandson of Pine Grove, and Casey Brandson (Margaret) of Amador City. Her grandchildren, Kyle Belt (Amanda) of Orangevale, Chelsea McClellan (Dave) of Pollock Pines, Penn Brimberry (Gillian) of Portland, Oregon and their families are mourning the loss of their "Ama." She also is survived by a brother, Albert Bailey, of Portland, Oregon and sister Bonnie Ricketts (Alan) of Aledo, Illinois. Betty was preceded in death by brother Robert. Her many nephews and nieces include Laine DeFreece of Denver, Colorado who met Betty's friends during extended Amador County visits to help her aunt. A Celebration of Betty's Life will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 430 Highway 49, Sutter Creek (Sutter Hill) at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28. A reception provided by Betty's brother, Albert, will follow the service. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Amador County's Interfaith Food Bank. That can be done online at www.feedamador.org; call (209) 267- 9006 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.