Liana Broadstone

Feb 15, 1931 -

Feb 20, 2023

Liana Emily Broadstone, 92, died at home in Oro Valley, Ariz., on Feb. 20, 2023, next to her adoring children. She was born in Peoria, Ill., to Walter and Hedwig Holler Woodman. Preceded in death by Richard Broadstone, her husband of 57 years. Over the years they lived in LA and San Rafael, Calif., Paris, Alaska, Kansas, Houston, and New Mexico before retiring in Arizona. An aspiring science teacher, Liana attended Bradley University in 1948-49, as long as she could afford to. She dearly loved her family, spoke with them almost daily and kept notes on the activities of all her grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Liana was selfless and generous. She shared her reverence for science, nature and desert life with her family and cherished neighbors. She volunteered many years as a yoga instructor at the YMCA in Anchorage, Alaska, and was a part of the Independence Arts Council in Kansas. For seven years, she shared her knowledge as a docent at the Sonora Desert Museum. This year she still bicycled to the recreation center to swim and lift weights.

Survived by three children: David (Jennifer Smeenk) of Seattle, Wash., with grandchildren, Lisa, Peter and Benjamin; Karen McMurtrey (David) of Loveland, Colo., with grandchild, Richard, M.D. (Jenny Redford, D.D.S.) and great-grandchildren Thomas, William, Genevieve of Orem, Utah, grandchild, Todd (Emily Davis) and great-grandchildren Matthew, Abigail of Berthoud, Colo., grandchild, Adam (Elizabeth Gardner) and great-grandchildren Benson, Calvin, Owen, Ashby, Kayley of Lehi, Utah, grandchild, Ryan of Boulder, Colo., and grandchild, Caliana of Midvale, Utah; and Lei Broadstone (Col. Harold L. Westbrook) of Colbert, Wash.; sister, Jane Woodman Kelly and family of Athens, Ga.; and many nieces and nephews.

A 2023 Celebration of Life will take place at a final resting place beside her husband, Richard Dillon Broadstone, in the Medical Lake Veterans Cemetery.