Cheryl Andrus Brower

Cheryl Andrus Brower, 80, of Rigby, Idaho, passed away on January 16, 2025, surrounded by family at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

She was born on June 3, 1944, in Rexburg, Idaho, as the only child of Alfred (Alf) William Andrus and Effie Ellis Andrus. Cheryl loved her two older half-siblings as her full brother and sister and was very close to her cousin, Marilyn Graham Tibbitts. They called each other “sister”, and their children called each cousin “aunt.” Cheryl also had many close childhood friends, like Sandra Pabst Thorngren. Neither of them would ever share details about their “wild” youthful adventures together.

Cheryl attended Clark Elementary, Kinghorn Elementary, and Rigby High School. Later she received her GED from Riverside High School in Riverside, California.

On May 27, 1961, she married Lynn Max Poole at her parents’ home in Lorenzo, Idaho. Three children blessed their lives before divorcing later. She married Gene Wills Brower on July 24, 1978, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and gained a stepdaughter. On February 14, 2012, they were sealed in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were married for 46 years.

Cheryl worked many jobs that utilized her multiple talents. At Dr. Rigby’s medical clinic in Rigby, Idaho, her compassion and people skills came in handy. Next, her knowledge of livestock (learned as a child while helping her dad) and her love of animals helped her excel at Dr. Loren Stegelmeier’s Rexburg Veterinary Clinic. Lastly, Cheryl started working at the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office as a nighttime dispatcher in the summer of 1975. Over 33 years she worked in many positions, including warrants and extraditions, and retired as the Records Supervisor. She was instrumental in setting up the county’s IBR Reporting System, enabled by her love of learning, quick wit, and communication and leadership skills. She always spoke fondly of the friendships created there and the important work she helped accomplish.

Cheryl was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Young Women’s, Primary, and Relief Society organizations benefited from her dedication, enthusiasm, and acceptance of everyone. Service to others and love for her Heavenly Father powered her motivation to help. For example, she used her phenomenal skills as a seamstress to shower family and strangers alike with quilts, clothes, and aprons. Often her service was anonymously given.

She was also well known for her variety of hobbies. In addition to making a light loaf of bread, she loved to ride horses. She was a founding member of The Larkspurs, Rigby’s women’s horse-riding club, and performed with them until 1989. She generously shared her vast knowledge of gardening and family history, lovingly telling detailed histories of places and people with anyone willing to listen or let her chauffer them around eastern Idaho.

Cheryl is survived by her husband Gene, son Brik A. (Karen) Poole of New Braunfels, Texas, daughter Shauna P. (Steven) Wahnschaffe of Rigby, Idaho, daughter Renae (Jared) Sullivan of Lewis Center, Ohio, and stepdaughter Doranna Brower of St. Anthony, Idaho. She leaves behind 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, who will deeply miss her. She is preceded in death by her father Alfred (Alf) W. Andrus, mother Effie E. Andrus, half-brother Eugene M. Andrus, and half-sister Nathell A. Spracher.

Services will be held Friday, January 24, 2025, at 1pm in the LDS church building at 258 West 1st North, Rigby, Idaho 83442. Guests may visit with family and friends from 11:30am to 12:45 pm the day of the service. Interment will be in the Annis Little Butte Cemetery, Annis, Idaho, following the service. The family would like to offer their heartful thanks to the ICU providers and staff at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Their genuine loving care and compassionate support was greatly appreciated.