Marjie Sue Broadbent

Marjie Sue Broadbent

February 7, 1935–June 26, 2022

Marjie Sue Broadbent, loving mother, grandmother, sister-in-law, aunt, and dear friend passed away peacefully after a full and blessed life on June 26, 2022, surrounded by her children. 

Sue was born on February 7, 1935, to Anna Maurine and Jack Swarts in a little rock house on South 3rd Street in Las Vegas, very near what is now the Fremont Street Experience. As a young girl, Sue lived in Caliente, Nevada, and Boulder City, Nevada. She is a fifth generation Nevadan, and her family were founding citizens of the towns of Caliente, Panaca, Alamo, Las Vegas, and Boulder City. Over the course of her life, Sue was a resident of Boulder City for over 65 years.

During WWII, her family moved to Long Beach, California, where her father worked as a mechanic at the Naval Shipyard. In 1950, she moved back to Boulder City, Nevada. She attended the new Boulder City High School and was part of the first class to graduate at the current Fifth Street location in 1952. 

Sue married Robert Broadbent in 1953. Together, they owned and operated the Boulder Rexall Drug. Sue and Bob lived lives of service. While Sue was pregnant in 1954, she learned that the hospital was in danger of being closed by the federal government. Sue and Bob’s passionate campaign to save the hospital was the beginning of their public service.

Sue served on the Boulder City Hospital Auxiliary, which was formed by local women to assist with hospital work and raise money to finance the hospital. She helped with the Hospital Auxiliary’s largest fundraiser, Art in the Park, for years. While Sue worked with her husband, Bob Broadbent, towards the incorporation of Boulder City, the Boulder City charter was written on her dining room table. This was just the beginning of her work supporting his political career. She helped write most of his campaign brochures and speeches, and accompanied him to countless political functions, as Bob served for years as Boulder City’s first Mayor, as a City Council member in Boulder City, as Clark County Commissioner, as Commissioner of Reclamation, and Assistant Secretary of the Interior over water and science. Rather than being in his shadow, Sue actively served beside him and was known for her intelligence and kindness. 

Additionally, Sue spent countless hours serving on many charities and community organizations, including the PTA and Boulder City Republican Women. For countless years, she served the people of her church congregations tirelessly as a teacher, Relief Society president, Young Women’s leader, and children’s group teacher and leader. 

Sue loved the beauty of a sunset over the desert and the smell of the creosote after rain. She never lost her sense of wonder for the beauties of this earth. She believed in being really, truly present wherever her feet were planted. She also believed in gratitude, in constantly learning, in having fun, and in loving her family and friends deeply. She is remembered as a wonderful friend to many and as a most loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. 

Sue is survived by her four children: Robert Broadbent (Helena), Kathleen Morris (Roy), Douglas Broadbent (Carol), and Michele Walker (Cam), 17 grandchildren, 23 1/2 great-grandchildren, and sister-in-law JoEllen Swarts. She is preceded in death by husband Robert Broadbent, parents Jack and Anna Maurine Swarts, brother George Swarts, and grandson Jared Brown.

We will celebrate Sue Broadbent’s life on Saturday, July 2, 2022, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1550 Buchanan Blvd, Boulder City. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45. Funeral service will start at 10:00 a.m. with burial to follow at the Boulder City Cemetery.  

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund in Sue's name. (https://curealz.org/giving/donate/)

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