Ernie Hammer is a long time Kiowa County Press contributor. This story is written by Ernie’s Aunt Liz, Elizabeth Katherine (Hammer) Smith Benatti, based on her memories and family research. The story begins in Germany with Oswald Hammer and Margarethe Marie von Barsewisch, Liz’s parents. Liz passed away at the age of 104. She was living at the Kohart Home in Kit Carson at the time of her death. Part 31 can be read here.

Elizabeth Katherine Hammer by Ernest Hammer

Elizabeth graduated from Fountain High School in 1924.  She was accepted into the Greeley Teachers College.  The college is now known as the University of Northern Colorado.  Liz was active in girls’ sports and other activities.  She especially excelled in track and field. After graduating from college she taught at Buckingham, Gilcrest and Hereford in Weld County then moved to Park County and taught fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades in the Jefferson school.  She married Bill Smith and they lived in the Badger Mountain area at the foot of Wilkerson Pass.  A beautiful dark haired daughter, Kathryn, was born to them in 1933 and in 1934 a blonde headed boy, Joe, graced their home.  Elizabeth stayed home with her children until they started school.

They moved to Lincoln County on the plains of eastern Colorado in 1939.  She taught school there at the Valley School.  A teacher at this school had a Montgomery Ward record player that came with three 78 speed records.  Elizabeth bought six more for 38 cents each.  There was no electricity so Liz powered the player with her car battery.  They also had a manual projector that played Felix the Cat.  A student had to stand and wind it so it would play.  Elizabeth then went back to Park County and taught at Alma from 1940 to 1942.

In 1943, the second grade in Fountain was fortunate to have Elizabeth for a teacher.  World War II interrupted all of our lives.  Again, Elizabeth was willing to go where she was needed.  The fourth grade at Camp Carson needed her stability to cope with the fact of war and military life.  She lost her son, Joe, in France in a car accident in 1956 while he was serving in the military.

Elizabeth spent half a year teaching at Drennan School in El Paso County in 1946.  She divorced Bill Smith in 1948.  She then went back to Park County to complete the term of School Superintendent.  After completion of this term she was elected on the Republican ticket and altogether served as superintendent for eight and a half years.  She went back to Fountain in 1953 and stayed there until retirement in 1972.

In 1963 Elizabeth married a military officer, Charles Benatti, who retired soon after their marriage.  They bought a cabin in Lake George where they spent many happy days enjoying the quiet life of a small town and fishing.  After Charlie passed away, she sold the cabin to a great nephew, Terral Moores.  She moved to View Point, an assisted living facility in Colorado Springs.  She did many errands for the other residents there as well as reading letters for them and writing for them.

She moved to Alamosa at the age of eighty-nine to be close to her daughter and her grandchildren.  She loved being close to her family.  Elizabeth had a distant cousin, Bernhard von Barsewisch, on her mother’s side that she kept in contact with.  He was an optometrist.  He came to America a couple of times and visited her.  She and her brother, Rod, and his wife, Lena went to visit him once. 

In 2005, Elizabeth was living alone and at the age of 99 and one half, she decided she needed a little help.  Ernie and Judy suggested an assisted living home in Kit Carson and there she enjoyed her remaining three and a half years.  She made many new friends and enjoyed getting out in the yard and pulling weeds.  She also enjoyed walking in the park.

Elizabeth died on February 5, 2009; forty-six days shy of her 103^rd birthday.  She was an inspiration to many who knew her.  Her remains were buried next to Charlie at the For Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.  At that point in time she was survived by her daughter, Kathryn (Oral) Cooper, three grandsons, two granddaughters, 13 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren.

The End

Next week, the Kiowa County Press will begin bringing you a new series of articles by Ernest Hammer which he calls "The Way it Was."

The Kiowa County Press invites those who live in or have ties to Colorado - especially the southeast, however all contributions are welcome - to share their story with our readers. Family history, current life, unique sites and adventures, and other aspects of living in Colorado are welcome. Contact us at editor@KiowaCountyPress.net.