Ruth K. Richardson, age 97, of 714-21st Avenue, Monroe, WI, died Monday April 30 at her daughter Kathryn's home in Madison, WI with her three children at her side. She was born February 17, 1915 in Utica, NY, daughter of Frederick W. Kesauer and Kathryn (Williams) Kesauer. She graduated from Binghamton High School in 1932, and received her BS from the School of Education at Syracuse University in 1937. She was employed as a social worker with the Schenectady County Department of Public Welfare, and later as a high school teacher. On December 12, 1942 in Schenectady, NY, she married Robert H. Richardson, an electrical engineer with General Electric who was originally from Evansville, WI. They lived in Scotia, NY until 1945, when they moved to Monroe, WI. In 1948, they moved into their home at 714-21st Avenue, which she considered her home until her death. Mrs. Richardson was a long-time active member of Union Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Deacon and Elder, and of the Monroe Women's Club. She and her husband were members of the Monroe Curling Club, scout leaders, and active supporters of the Green County Family YMCA and Monroe Arts Center. She helped her husband in the operation of Richardson Electric, and was a substitute teacher at Monroe High School. In recent years, with the help of her children and caretakers, Ruth continued to worship regularly at Union Presbyterian Church in Monroe, meet friends for coffee on Monroe's Square, attend UW hockey, basketball, and football games in Madison (though she retained her loyalty to the Syracuse Orangemen). Even at age 96, she enjoyed her annual Labor Day Family Camp weekend at Phantom Lake YMCA Camp in Mukwonago, WI with her family and many friends, where she was "Grandma Ruth" to all. Until the last six months of her life, she enjoyed many visits with her grandchildren and great grandchildren in Salt Lake City and Monument, CO.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her younger sister Esther Ruffley of Ferndale, Michigan, her husband of 52 years Robert H. Richardson, and her faithful black and tan dachshund Sam.
Survivors include: son Robert W. (Kathryn Woods) Richardson of Madison, daughter Janet Rich of Rochester, MN, daughter Kathryn M. Richardson of Madison, grandson Robert D. Richardson (Mariam Thalos) of Salt Lake City, UT, grandson David W. (Catherine Jackson) Richardson of Monument, CO, and five great grandchildren, Jackson, Charles, and Caroline Richardson of Monument, CO, and Oliver Richardson and Elijah Thalos of Salt Lake City.
The family would like to thank her caregivers from Supportive Elder Services, particularly Barbara Leete and Maria Abscale of Madison, to thank caregivers Sara Bass and Jane Bailey of Rochester, MN, and to thank Agrace Hospice of Madison and Dr. David Watts. They helped make it possible for Ruth to live life to the fullest, surrounded by loved ones until the end. Special thanks also to Pastor Marilyn Sandin-Ross. Memorials may be sent in Ruth's name to: Phantom Lake YMCA Camp in Mukwonago, the Green County Family YMCA, the Monroe Arts Center, or Union Presbyterian Church in Monroe.
Memorial service will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Union Presbyterian Church in Monroe, with pastor Marilyn Sandin-Ross officiating. A visitation at Union Presbyterian Church will be from 9:30 A.M. until time of the memorial service. Burial at Greenwood Cemetery will be private at a later date.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her younger sister Esther Ruffley of Ferndale, Michigan, her husband of 52 years Robert H. Richardson, and her faithful black and tan dachshund Sam.
Survivors include: son Robert W. (Kathryn Woods) Richardson of Madison, daughter Janet Rich of Rochester, MN, daughter Kathryn M. Richardson of Madison, grandson Robert D. Richardson (Mariam Thalos) of Salt Lake City, UT, grandson David W. (Catherine Jackson) Richardson of Monument, CO, and five great grandchildren, Jackson, Charles, and Caroline Richardson of Monument, CO, and Oliver Richardson and Elijah Thalos of Salt Lake City.
The family would like to thank her caregivers from Supportive Elder Services, particularly Barbara Leete and Maria Abscale of Madison, to thank caregivers Sara Bass and Jane Bailey of Rochester, MN, and to thank Agrace Hospice of Madison and Dr. David Watts. They helped make it possible for Ruth to live life to the fullest, surrounded by loved ones until the end. Special thanks also to Pastor Marilyn Sandin-Ross. Memorials may be sent in Ruth's name to: Phantom Lake YMCA Camp in Mukwonago, the Green County Family YMCA, the Monroe Arts Center, or Union Presbyterian Church in Monroe.
Memorial service will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Union Presbyterian Church in Monroe, with pastor Marilyn Sandin-Ross officiating. A visitation at Union Presbyterian Church will be from 9:30 A.M. until time of the memorial service. Burial at Greenwood Cemetery will be private at a later date.