STOUGHTON - Ruth Esther Marsh, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and proud Norwegian through and through, died peacefully at the Skaalen Home in Stoughton, Wis., on Friday, November 14, 2025, just days after joyfully celebrating her 105th birthday with her family.

Ruth was born on November 8, 1920, on the family farm in Black Earth, Wis., the daughter of Amon and Ida Brager. She was one of eight children and a sister to Earland, Bud, Inez, Lenore, Velma, Bill, and Lillian. Her deep Christian faith was rooted at Vermont Lutheran Church, where her lifelong love of music continued. After graduating from high school in 1939, Ruth moved to Madison, where she worked at Dr. Harned’s Clinic as a maid for $5 a week and performed as a singer with The Three J’s at Vilas Park in Madison.

She married Donald Marsh on September 6, 1947, at Vermont Lutheran Church, in a double wedding alongside her sister, Lenore, and Bill Seeliger. Ruth and Don made their home in Stoughton, where they raised their family and were longtime members of First Lutheran Church and Our Saviors Lutheran Church. At one time, she was the activity director for 17 nursing homes in Stoughton. Ruth loved her Norwegian heritage and at the age of 50, Ruth and her daughter, Nancy, won the women’s division in the Syttende Mai Canoe Race. She enjoyed watching Wayne and Lynn as Norwegian Dancers and eating lutefisk, rommegrot, lefsa and krumkaka.

Ruth was the devoted mother of four children, the cherished grandmother of 17 and the proud great-grandmother of 30. Her family included: Lynn Marsh (Doug DeLong) of Cherry Valley, N.Y., and their children, Collin, Trevor and Kendra; Wayne (Kim) Marsh of Stoughton and their children, Jessica (Steven Grahmann) and their children, Noah and Jack, Rachel (Matt Braund) and their children, Mason, Damien and Caden, Melissa (Brian Borke) and their children, Peter, Nathan, Samuel and Lydia, Bethany (Tim Groeneweg) and their children, Isabelle, Josephine and Boaz, timothy (Martha Marsh) and their children, Elijah, Elizabeth and Emma, Tiffany (Taylor Schmid) and their Children, Brooklynn and Alena, and Tracy (Joe Augustine) and their children, Thatcher and Shepherd; Don (Lois) Marsh of Stoughton and their children, Donnie (Renee Marsh) and their children Emmit and Austin, Amanda (Arturo Perez Ruiz) and their children, Jayden, Mila, Tori, Ava, Sylis and Vera, Sarah (Jeff Burke) and their children Clara, Jacob and Olivia, and Luke Forde; and Nancy (Matt) Boland of Stoughton and their children, Brian Bolland, Daniel Bolland and Paul Bolland (Alyssa Campbell).

Ruth lived a life full of energy and curiosity. She loved hunting for agates and arrowheads, fishing Wisconsin lakes and rivers, and-most of all-catching muskies. Music was the heartbeat of her home: old love songs on the piano, hymns on the organ, waltzes and polkas on the accordion. Her grandchildren fondly remember stairway “choir concerts,” Christmas bell ringing, and a home always filled with song.

Her home on Lake Kegonsa became the center of family gatherings for decades. She taught all her children to water-ski, hosted countless overnight stays with grandkids, served early-morning egg pancakes, organized lefse-making parties, and created treasured memories of ice-fishing bonfires, skating weekends, and winter ski adventures. Even in her final week, Ruth was known to enjoy a good joke and to win at card games.

Ruth is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years; all of her siblings, and her son-in-law Matt Bolland. Her son. Wayne, passed away on November 27, 2025, about two weeks after Ruth’s passing. She leaves behind a legacy of hospitality, faith, laughter, music, and deep love for her family.

A joint service will be held for Ruth Marsh and her son, Wayne Marsh, at RIDGEWAY CHURCH, 3245 E. Washington Ave., Madison, on Saturday, December 13, 2025. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Wayne’s service will be from 1:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m., followed by a brief intermission. Ruth’s service and Hymn sing will be from 2:30 p.m. until 3 p.m., followed by a pie social.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of Skaalen Home and Hospice for their exceptional care, compassion, and attention during Ruth’s final years.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Stoughton

Funeral & Cremation Care

1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St.

(608) 873-4590

Ruth E Marsh

November 08, 1920 - November 14, 2025

Send Local Flowers & Gifts for Ruth

Categories