Clara Mae "Mamie"

Please note: Times of the visitation and funeral service have changed since the original posting.

Clara Mae “Mamie” Butters, age 88, died on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at Prairie Place in Ripon, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of the late Plin and Mabel (Soules) Caswell, born on September 22, 1936 in Wautoma, Wisconsin. Mamie grew up in Redgranite and at the age of 16 graduated from Wautoma High School. Following graduation, she moved to Ripon to live with her Uncle and Aunt, Milton and Clarabelle Werdin and this is when she began working at Ripon State Bank. 

It was Mamie’s Uncle Milt that introduced her to Glenn Butters, who was a Ripon College student at the time. It was love at first sight and the happy couple married in 1956. They were married for 45 years until Glenn passed away in 2002.

They moved to Edgar, Wisconsin, for Glenn’s career and after a few years returned to Ripon and it became their life-long home, where they raised two children.

After returning to Ripon, Mamie went back to work at the bank, took a few years off to raise their children and then advanced her career to Vice President, Internal Auditor at M & I Ripon State Bank. She retired after 28 successful years of banking.

Mamie and Glenn enjoyed traveling to Florida especially after retirement. They purchased a home in Fort Myers and a few years after, Glenn passed away.  

Mamie continued wintering in Fort Myers and found that she had a passion for tennis and golf. She became an avid tennis player and was on a traveling tennis team. She also enjoyed golfing 3 to 4 times a week with her Florida friends. During the summer months Mamie enjoyed playing tennis with her Ripon and Green Lake friends.

Also while in Florida, Mamie was a volunteer at the Lee County Sheriff’s Department, helped build a house for Habitat for Humanity and enjoyed traveling to Greece and Italy with her friends.

Mamie was an active member of the First Congregational Church in Ripon. She especially enjoyed volunteering at the Sharing Table Community Dinner.

Most importantly, Mamie enjoyed spending time with family, friends and grand dogs.

Mamie is survived by her son, Randal (Laurie) Butters of Ripon, granddaughter, Sarah Cressey and great-granddaughters, Grace Butters, Olivia Cressey and Kaili Cressey. She is also survived by her daughter, Mary (Kevin) Hilbert of Fort Myers, Florida, and granddaughter, Hannah Hilbert of Fort Myers. Mamie is further survived by sisters, Gloria (Gary) Klug of Waupaca, and Susan (Joe) Moerke of Chippewa Falls, sister-in-law Billie Caswell of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and many nieces and nephews.

Mamie was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Butters, her parents, Plin and Mabel Caswell, her sister, Betty Eannelli and her brothers, Bob Caswell, Miles Caswell, Steve Caswell, Jerry Caswell and Tony Caswell.

Visitation for Mamie will be held from 10:00 am until 12:30 pm on Monday, November 18, 2024 at First Congregational Church, 220 Ransom St., Ripon, Wisconsin 54971. 

Funeral service for Mamie will be held at 12:30 pm on Monday, November 18, 2024 at First Congregational Church in Ripon, with Rev. Jeffrey Dodson officiating. Interment will follow at Garden of the Cross Cemetery, Ripon, Wisconsin. A memorial fund has been established in Mamie’s name at the First Congregational Church in Ripon.

A special heart-felt thank you to the staff at Prairie Place and SSM Hospice for the exceptional care provided.