Bess Norton Roethe

MONROE, Wis. – Bess Norton Roethe, 93, a long-time resident of Monroe, Wis., died peacefully July 25, 2010, in Madison.
She was born May 29, 1917, on her family farm in Marshall, Wis., to John and Inez (Lewis) Norton. She graduated from Waterloo High School and attended Madison Technical School and the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
She met Arthur Frantz Roethe while she was employed as a legal secretary at the Wisconsin Taxpayer's Alliance in Madison, and they were married Aug. 19, 1939. They moved to Milwaukee for four years and then to Monroe, which became their home for more than 60 years. Her most enduring love was her five children and 10 grandchildren. As she put it recently, "I loved to get on the floor and play with all of them." She worked as a part-time legal secretary for several different law firms in Monroe. She was a member of the Green County Legal Secretaries' Association and spent 25 years employed at the Benkert Law Office.
She also was an involved member of the Monroe community. She was active as a den mother in Boy Scouts and a Girl Scout Leader. After her children were grown, she volunteered for an after-school reading club at the local elementary school. She was executive secretary for the United Way of Monroe and was a volunteer for that organization for seven years. She also was a longtime member of the Monroe Women's Club and was a regular volunteer at St. Claire Hospital in Monroe as well as the Monroe Bloodmobile.
She had a strong Christian faith and was a dedicated member of the United Methodist Church of Monroe. She taught Sunday school for many years, served on numerous church committees and was past president of the United Methodist Women.
Most importantly, she enjoyed life to the fullest. She had a positive, contagious spirit, with an enthusiastic love of the simple things in life. She loved music and enjoyed singing the songs of her youth, instilling the love of music into her children and grandchildren. She liked sports and actively played tennis into her 80s in addition to riding around Monroe on her little red Honda moped. For more than 60 years, there always was a pet in the house – either a dog or a cat. She was an unselfish person and a model for her children, grandchildren and others, spreading joy to her family and friends. She made all around her feel special.
She is survived by her sons, James N. Roethe of Orinda, Calif., Arthur R. Roethe of Bend, Ore., and David J. Roethe of Madison; her daughters, Caroline K. Roethe Watson of Fontana, and Judith A. Roethe of Madison; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her four siblings –her brothers, Gene, John and Lee and a sister, Grace Gaumitz.
A memorial service in celebration of her life will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27, at Monroe United Methodist Church, followed by a reception and lunch. Friends can greet the family before the service at 10:30 a.m. at the church. Burial happened at Greenwood Cemetery in Monroe in a private ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Monroe Methodist Church or Hospice of Madison.
For information, call the funeral home at 608-325-4306.