Caroline Bethke

Caroline Ann Bethke, age 90, of Ripon, WI, passed away on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Hospice Home of Hope in Fond du Lac with her family by her side.

Caroline was born July 18, 1923, in Mount Carroll, IL, the daughter of Charley and Lillian (Buchholz) Mahlke. She graduated from Ripon High School and in 1945, Caroline married Ardwin Willard Bethke at Immanuel Evangelical Church in Ripon. Caroline was employed as a seamstress and worked for Ripon Knitting Works and Advertisers. She was a member of Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ripon. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and watching cardinals out her front window.

Survivors include her daughter, Gloria (Alan) Stellmacher of Fond du Lac, WI; two sons, Mark (Pat) Bethke of Ripon, WI and Jeff (Sue) Bethke of Ripon, WI; five grandchildren, Bob Stellmacher of Fond du Lac, WI, Mark Bethke Jr. of Ripon, WI, Tegan Bethke of Oshkosh, WI, Kyle Bethke of Ripon, WI and Trevor (fiancée Sabrina Mueller) Bethke of Plymouth, WI; two great-grandchildren, Ashley and Jared Stellmacher both of Fond du Lac, WI; sister-in-law, Elva (Melvin) Schultz of Ripon, WI and one niece and three nephews. Caroline was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ardwin; grandparents, Edward and Selma (Heaft) Buchholz; infant brother, Harold; brothers and sisters-in-law, Norbert, Leona and Veronica Bethke and Erna (Gordon) Dobberke.

Visitation for Caroline Bethke will be held on Friday, March 28, 2014, from 10 – 11:00 am at Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 307 Mt. Zion Dr., Ripon, WI 54971.

Funeral service for Caroline Bethke will be held on Friday, March 28, 2014, at 11:00 am at Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ripon. Pastor Dennis Meier will officiate. Interment will follow at Garden of the Cross Cemetery in Ripon. Memorials may be given to Hospice Home of Hope, 400 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937.



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