Elizabeth "Betty" (McKee) Rotar

FITCHBURG - Elizabeth “Betty” (McKee) Rotar passed away peacefully on Friday, October 16, 2026, after coming to the end of her suffering with dementia. Born in August 1938, Betty grew up in Fitchburg on her family's farm. She would always tell the story of how anyone driving down McKee Road was either coming to visit her family, or her uncle’s family, as it wasn’t the busy thoroughfare it is now.

Growing up in Fitchburg, Betty attended a one-room schoolhouse that was located on the corner of Fish Hatchery Road and Lacy Road. For high school, she elected to attend Verona High School, along with her two brothers. There she was a cheerleader, played the glockenspiel in the marching band, and was on the yearbook staff. This is also where she met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Issy, during their freshman year.

Upon graduation, her Dad brought her to her new office in downtown Verona. She became a licensed insurance agent and managed the agency.  She would eventually become the owner of the McKee Insurance Agency. She also became a real estate agent. Betty eventually sold her insurance agency and joined her husband in a construction company, Construction Designs by Rotar.

Betty married Issy in 1958. They were married for 36 years when Betty suddenly lost Issy to a massive heart attack. After his loss, she and her daughter stayed in the construction business for several more years. But then Betty wanted to put her love of sewing to work for her, so she and Tami started a business making, dressing and selling porcelain dolls. When Betty was sewing was when she was the happiest. She loved designing, creating, and making intercut clothing for each doll. Her love of sewing began at age 5, when her mother said, if you can sew straight on this lined paper, then you can start using my sewing machine. And from that day on sewing was what she loved to do. She also loved machine embroidery and for several years made and embroidered the Grand Champion Cow Sashes for the World Dairy Expo. Unfortunately, however, dementia stripped that love from her memories.

Along with those memories, dementia took from her a lifetime she could no longer think back on. She no longer remembered her childhood, being married, or having a child. She forgot about her love of sewing and simple day-to-day activities. She could no longer remember the days of sitting on the porch with Issy as they looked out over the waters of Lake Petenwell. She could no longer remember her family or friends who played such an important part in her life.

Following her parents’ motto of, if you want to do something, you can always make the time. Betty served as President of the Verona Chamber of Commerce for many years, as well as President of the Verona Betterment for 12 years. Following in her dad’s footsteps, she served on the Board of Directors of the Helenville Mutual Insurance Company for many years. During one week in July and one week in October, Betty also worked for the Dane County Fair and World Dairy Expo, respectively. Betty was also instrumental in launching and seeing the completion of the Dane County Veterans Memorial Project. Most recently, Betty was a volunteer at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Betty is survived by her only child Tamre “Tami” Rotar; and her sister, Barbara (Richard Rocha) McKee. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Janet McKee and Judy (Rich Westerman) (Rotar) Wolfgramm; brother-in-law, Jerry (Ann) Rotar; along with many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

Betty also had a special place in her heart for her grand-dog , Darby, a Registered Therapy Dog.  Eight years ago, as Darby sat on Betty’s lap, he selected this family to be his. Darby gave great comfort to Betty during her suffering with dementia, and especially in the final hours of her life.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Isadore “Issy” Rotar; parents, William “Bill” and Florence McKee; brothers, Robert “Bob” McKee and William “Bill” McKee; and nephew, Kevin McKee. She was also preceded in death by her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Stephen and Lenora Rotar; brothers and sisters-in-law, Stephen (Sue) Rotar and Myron (Beverly) Rotar; other extended family members; as well as longtime family friends, Buck and Doris Rindfliesch.

A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON FITCHBURG FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 2950 Chapel Valley Road, Fitchburg, at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.

During the last year and a half of her life, Betty enjoyed going to the Agrace Adult Day Center five days a week. The staff were so kind and caring and were always ready to be her dance partner. In addition, a special thank you is given to the nurses at St. Mary’s Hospital on 5SW and Short Stay, the staff at Capitol Lakes Skilled Nursing Home and Agrace Hospice. And finally, the most heartfelt gratitude goes to three people who gave of their time to sit with Betty, allowing Tami and Darby to bring comfort and joy to others. Thank you, Janet McKee, Beth Sailor and Kathleen Freimuth.

Flowers are beautiful, but Betty’s wishes were that any remembrances of her be made as a living tribute, in her name, to the St. Mary’s Pet Therapy Program or Dogs On Call, Inc. Even when you can’t remember those around you, a therapy dog can always make you feel calm.

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

Gunderson Fitchburg
Funeral & Cremation Care
2950 Chapel Valley Road
(608) 442-5002