BETTY RICH

Betty J. Rich, age 86, formerly of Ripon, passed away early Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Brewster Village in Appleton. She was born in Wisconsin Rapids on May 13, 1935 to the late Floyd and Helen Tracy.  She married Lawrence Rich in September 1955, and soon after bought a little farm in Pine River where they lived for over 34 years, raising children, working hard and enjoying the beauty and bounty of nature.  Every summer Betty would plant a big garden, canning and freezing for winter.  She also was an avid baker.  There were always chocolate chip cookies, brownies and home-made bread in the kitchen and vases of her favorite gladiola flowers on the dining room table.

Betty also had a long career with the U.S. Postal Service, serving many years as the Post Master of Pine River.  With Lawrence no longer by her side, in 1992 she sold the family farm and fulfilled their life-long dream of living by the water when she built a small home on Lake Irogami in Wautoma.  She lived there for many years enjoying the beauty of the water and watching her grandchildren swim and play.  As time moved on, Betty wanted to be closer to family and so moved to Ripon, where she lived for over 20 years.  Because she was not a “city dweller”, Betty lived on the outskirts of the city where she had a cornfield out her bedroom window and wooded country roads nearby on which she took her daily walks.  Family and faith were important to Betty, so she was very involved in her church, St. Catherine's of Sienna, and enjoyed hosting many Christmas open houses, decorating and baking in anticipation of the day.  She also enjoyed bowling on the local women's league, playing her piano, listening to music, writing poems and short stories and of course, from time to time playing the slot machines at the casino. She enjoyed her life, loved the outdoors, was fiercely independent and will be remembered for her kind heart. 

She will be missed by those who remain behind:  her two children, Michael Rich and Judy Rich; her six grandchildren, Trevor (Jennie) Rich; Tasha Rich; Darrick Rich; Lindsy (Travis) Peterson; Brittany Rich; and Kelsy Rich; and by her four great-grandchildren:  Elena and Harrison Rich, and Ava and Cannon Wilke. She is further survived by her siblings: John (Judy) Tracy; Jim (Darlene) Tracy; Nancy Kohler-Johnson; and Robert (Susan) Tracy.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence in 1990 and by her youngest son, Randy in 2015; and most recently by her brother, Don Tracy.

A private, memorial mass for family will be held for Betty at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic church and in the spring, she will be laid to rest along-side Lawrence at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Berlin.

Because of Betty's joy in giving, it is the wish of the family that if you feel so inclined, in lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to an organization or charity that touches your heart. 

One of Betty's wishes was to share a few words for her much-loved family and friends.  What follows are the lines of a song she performed as her first solo in grade school many, many years ago.

The song is entitled “My Best to You” and is her personal farewell to all.

“So here's to you.  May your dreams come true. May old father time never be unkind. And through the years, save your smiles and your tears. They're just souvenirs. They'll make music in your heart. Remember this.  Each new day is a kiss sent from up above with an angel's love.  So here's to you. May your skies be blue and your love blessed. That's my best to you.”