BELLEVILLE - Mrs. Ruth E. Cotham, age 91, of Belleville passed away on Monday, February 28, 2011 at the New Glarus Home. She was born on April 3, 1919 in the Town of Primrose the daughter of Orville and Goldie (Sampson) Fritz. Ruth was a 1937 graduate of Belleville High School and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Platteville where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in 1956. She taught in a total of three schools in the Belleville area and in Belleville for forty years until retiring in 1982. Ruth loved being with her family at all times. She also liked to travel, read, and play cards. She was united in marriage to Jesse Cotham on August 24, 1942 in the Methodist Church in Thayer, Missouri. Ruth was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Belleville and the United Methodist Women's Club.

She is survived by her son-in-law David Ayen of Monroe, two grandchildren Eric (Beth) Ayen of Byron, MN and Carla (Brian) Knoche of Verona, five great-grandchildren Sarah, Reece, and Alyse Ayen and Brayden and Grace Knoche, and nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Jesse, in 1992, a son, Richard, in 1990, a daughter Sylvia, in 2009, her parents, a sister Verna, and a brother Forrest.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at Grace Methodist Church, 236 W. Pearl St., Belleville with the Rev. Edwin Vargas officiating with burial in the Montrose Pioneer Cemetery.

Relatives and friends may call from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home, 109 Greenway Cross, Belleville, WI. www.bealfuneralhomes.com.