Betty “Toots” J. Klessinger, age 85, of Monroe, WI, passed away Wednesday, September 10th, 2025, at SSM Hospice Home with her grandson, Joseph and son, Todd by her side. She was born May 4th, 1940 in Monroe, WI, the daughter of Alex and Ella (Hanson) Sutter. She attended Round Grove School and graduated in 1958 from Monroe Senior High School. She worked at Oaktron Industries for a short time after high school.
Toots’ first loves of her life were the many horses that she had, the 1st of which she rode before she could walk. She enjoyed driving horses and riding motorcycles and snowmobiles throughout her life, as well.
Betty and Joseph Klessinger were married September 8th, 1962, at St. Victor Catholic Church in Monroe, WI, which was the 34th wedding anniversary of her parents. Toots proudly said her full-time job was a domestic engineer and she did a great job at it, too! She always had laundry on the line and a home-cooked meal on the table. Toots enjoyed trail rides with José, taking off on a Friday, and coming back on Sunday or Monday. They would load up the horse trailer and head out on the trails for many weekends of the summer with many of their good friends. She was a member of the Southwest Wisconsin Draft Horse Club and the Blackhawk Saddle Club.
Betty is survived by her children: Troy (Chris) Klessinger, Dawn Wolfe (Fred Ruef), Todd (Donna) Klessinger, and Darci (Aaron) Steinmann; grandchildren, Brandon (Paige) Klessinger, Jordyn (Joey) Van Matre, Katlyn Steinmann, Logyn Steinmann (Mike Herbig), Little Joe (Cheyenne) Klessinger, Kara (Tony) Guglielmo, Tina Herrera, Alicia (Steven) Halvorson, Derek (Kaelyn) Nyman, Kyle Nyman, and Alex Goebeli; and 20 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Karen Sutter and Marilyn Neuenschwander, both of Monroe and many nephews and nieces, and all of the kids that she helped raise by babysitting them over the years!
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph; her parents; in-laws, John and Clara Klessinger; brother, Robert H. Sutter; sister, Bernice T. Gordon; grandson, Tyler Klessinger; great-grandson, Deacon Eberle; brother-in-law, Delbert Neuenschwander; nephews, Tim Sommers and Larry Sommers; and her many beloved horses and dogs.
Betty’s family would like to sincerely thank the caregivers and staff at Aster Assisted Living for your care you gave Betty over the past few years. Your hard work is appreciated and never went unnoticed. Betty’s family would also like to extend a sincere thank you to the nurses and staff at Monroe SSM Hospice - truly angels on earth.
Memorial Services will be held at 12pm (noon) on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Shriner Hager Gohlke Funeral Home with Pastor Dennis Perger officiating.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home, on Saturday, from 10AM until the time of the service.
Condolences may be sent to the family at shgfuneralhome.net.
