Betty Ruth Brokaw

Betty Ruth (nee Pounds) Brokaw passed away peacefully at Houston Hospice on Monday, February 13, 2017, in the company of family. Betty was born on October 22, 1924, to Julian and Della (Thompson) Pounds in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was raised and attended school in Mankato, Minnesota. Upon graduation she worked for the City Attorney’s office. In 1945 Betty was recruited and traveled to Washington, DC where she worked as a secretary in the office of the Secretary of the Treasury. It was in Washington, DC where she met and married George Brokaw. George and Betty moved often with the Navy and had five children. Betty taught Sunday school, was a Boy Scout Den Mother, President of the PTA and a member of Eastern Star for 61 years. In 1976 she served as Worthy Matron for the Libertyville, Illinois Chapter of the Eastern Star. She also worked as a secretary for the Special Education District of Lake County, Illinois. After retiring and moving from Illinois to Texas, Betty volunteered for the Memorial Herman Fort Bend Hospital for several years. Betty is preceded in death by father Julian Pounds; mother Della Thompson Pounds; son Jonathan Brokaw; husband George Brokaw; brother Julian Pounds; and sister Ethel Pounds Wollam. She is survived by four children: Julianne (Darrell) Frey, Lake Worth Florida; Kim (Mary) Brokaw, Dixon Illinois; Robin Brokaw, Houston, Texas, and Betsy (Frederick) Mensch, Palatine, Illinois; nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and four great, great grandchildren. A celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at Westbury United Methodist Church, Houston, Texas where she was a member for many years. Memorials may be given to Houston Hospice or donor’s choice. Betty’s love of life, keen fashion sense, and enjoyable sense of humor will be greatly missed by all who knew her well.