Marian Botz

Marian Botz died February 7, 2018, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where she had lived since 2012 to be near family members. She was 97.
Marian Helen Ritten was born July 18, 1920, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She grew up in Northeast Minneapolis, the second-youngest of eight children. Their father died when she was a child, so the family worked from young ages to support themselves and their mother, Anna. Marian attended St. Boniface elementary school and Patrick Henry High School. She graduated from the Minneapolis Business School with a secretarial certificate. She worked in downtown Minneapolis as a secretary in the landmark Foshay Tower building.

Marian married Francis L. Botz June 29, 1942, in San Francisco, CA, where he was stationed in the U.S. Navy. He died September 10, 2007, after 65 years of marriage. Their life together was spent in Minneapolis and later in Saginaw, Michigan, working and raising their family.

After being a homemaker for many years, Marian worked for more than a decade as a saleswoman in office supplies and furniture in the Saginaw area. She retired to spend more time traveling with her husband and visiting her family. She was active in activities at St. Helen’s Church in Saginaw, the V.F.W., Knights of Columbus and with friends and family. She often helped her husband deliver Meals on Wheels. Marian enjoyed cooking and baking, sewing, embroidery and quilting as well as playing cards with friends. She was devoted to her immediate and extended family, especially planning holiday times and summer cottage visits.

Surviving Marian are her four children: Karen Vosika, Moorhead, MN; Janet Botz (Tom Lippert), Suamico, WI; James Botz (Jill) Green Bay, WI, and Lori Pike, Newark, DE; Nine grandchildren: Michael Vosika (Paul Upham), Tara (Vosika) Gibb, Eric Vosika, Lindsey (Botz) Rykal (Nate), Kyle Botz (Cayla), Grant Botz, Ryan Pike (Peyton), Kelsie Pike and David Pike; Eight great-grandchildren: Ariana Gibb, Ellie Gibb, Lainey Botz, Josephine Botz, Allison Rykal, Natalie Rykal, Jackson Rykal and Thomas Rykal; her sister, Lorraine Nolting and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband Francis, Marian was predeceased by her parents: Frank and Anna (Maurer) Ritten, siblings: Edward Ritten, Irene Anderson, Arthur Ritten, John Ritten, Leona Johnson and Frank Ritten, son-in-law Gerald Vosika and four grandchildren: Katherine, Marc, Douglas and Mary Vosika.

Marian will be laid to rest at the Fort Snelling Cemetery in Minneapolis with her husband, Frank, who died September 10, 2007. A family memorial service there is planned for later.

People who would like to remember Marian with a memorial can do so to a charity of their choice, with appreciation from her family. The family also wishes to sincerely thank the staff of Tender Hearts Assisted Living and Heartland Hospice for their loving care of Marian.