Berniece Ashdown Andersen Weber 1915 - 2020

Berniece Ashdown Andersen Weber was born March 10, 1915, in Bountiful, Utah. She died July 30, 2020, in Newberg, Oregon, after 105 years of exemplary life lived as an adventure. She was an author, a scientific illustrator, a landscape architect, an architectural designer, a botanist, an environmentalist, a supreme friend and extraordinary member of her extended family. She successfully raised six children under very difficult circumstances and contributed to the upbringing and happiness of many other young people, all the while building a valued network of colleagues, clients and friends.

In an age when few women attended college, Berniece triple-majored in Botany, Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Utah State Agricultural College, which later became Utah State University. She transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, to continue her studies, but dropped out of Berkeley to accept a position at the largest architectural firm in California, as personal assistant to the legendary Mark Roy Daniels.

She later moved to Hollywood, where she freelanced, worked at California Arts and Architecture, and was a contributing editor with a byline in "Landscape Magazine."

Berniece married Dr. E. Milton Andersen November 20, 1940. The couple lived in Ithaca, New York, Homestead, Florida, Kingston, Rhode Island, and Logan, Utah, where Berniece was eventually Assistant Curator of the Intermountain Herbarium. She is the author and illustrator of popular field guides: A Guide to Mountain Flowers, Mountain Plants of Northeastern Utah, Desert Plants of Utah, Weeds of Utah, and Uses of Native Plants in Early Mormon Country. The guides are still found online, some in updated versions.

The couple had six children, James M. Andersen (Dixie), Katherine A. Smith, Richard L. Andersen (Melody), Dr. Stephen O. Andersen (Janet), Marilyn A. Reidman (David), and G. Paul Andersen (Nancy).

Berniece remarried in 1972 to Gordon Emerson Weber of Ontario, Canada. They lived in Paris, Ontario, and Victoria, B.C., Canada. After Gordon’s death, Berniece moved to an oceanfront house in Little Whale Cove, Depoe Bay, Oregon. She spent her last days in Newberg, near three of her children and their families, James of Amity, Richard of McMinnvile, and Marilyn of Sheridan.

Berniece was preceded in death by her first and second husbands; her parents; her siblings; two nephews; and a niece. She is survived by her six children; 12 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

There will be no service at this time. An online memorial is being planned.

For more information, contact Katherine Andersen Smith: bernieceashdownmemorial@gmail.com .