Ruth Elizabeth Bartlett

Ruth Elizabeth Bartlett, 97, died on October 4, 2023, at the Brookdale Middleton Stonefield memory care facility where she moved this past January.  She was born in Lima, Ohio on September 25, 1926. The daughter of Harold and Alice McMullen, she grew up in a family of three brothers and four sisters.

She met her soon to be husband Richard (Dick) Bartlett at Lima South High School.  They wed in 1948 after she had returned after one year of college. They lived in Lima until Dick accepted a job as a men’s clothing store manager in Madison, Wi.

Ruth was an accomplished typist and held many jobs in the UW community and later became a Brailee typist, transcribing books and articles for the blind.  Ruth and Dick became part owners of Petrie Sports in 1969 where she continued to work during the busy seasons. As a result, she loved golf, skiing, racquetball, swimming, and fishing.  She was an avid Badger and Packer fan.

She was a pretty darn good dancer, too.  As her work life slowed down, and with Dick’s encouragement, she joined a group of middle-aged women known as the “Tap Dance Kids”.  When the leader retired a few years later, Ruth took over as their leader doing all the choreography and booking of their “gigs”.  They mostly performed at Senior Centers and Senior Living facilities but was proudest of being asked to perform that the opening celebration of the Monona Terrace Community Center.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dick.  Ruth is survived by her sons, Sterling (Ann) and Steve (Linda): Grandsons Eric (Kirsten) and Craig Bartlett (Abby), granddaughter Heather Rotering (Pat), great granddaughter Megan Rotering and great grandsons Jared Rotering, Charlie and Frankie Bartlett, and Steve’s stepdaughters Kim Brady (Dan) and Jana Hanssen and their families.

The family would like to thank the staff of Brookdale for making Ruth and our family feel like family and for the care and love they showed Ruth.

A UW Badger themed celebration of Ruth’s life will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at Blackhawk Country Club, 3606 Blackhawk Dr., Madison, WI. “Go Red “and dress accordingly!

In lieu of flowers memorials could be made to Agrace of Madison.