Obituary: Evelyn Ruth (Spencer) Millett - Class of 1937

MADISON - Evelyn Ruth Millett, age 83, passed away on Monday, Oct. 14, 2002, of congestive heart failure. She was born of Francis and Ella (Gamble) Spencer on Dec. 6, 1918, in New Westminster (east of Vancouver), British Columbia, Canada. Her father was from Fairchild and was a CPR station agent in Fraser Mills, Canada. Her mother was from Astoria, Ore. Evelyn's family moved to Cupar, Saskatchewan, Canada, and then to Madison. Evelyn graduated from Madison Central High School and attended one year pre-nursing at the UW-Madison. Evelyn married Merrill Albert Millett on Feb. 14, 1942. Merrill worked for Forest Products Laboratory. She is survived by three children, Francis (Eunice) Millett and their sons, Paul and Jason, of Fayetteville, Ark., Marilyn (Steven) Stone of Madison, and Kellie (Charles) Knox and their sons, Douglas and William, of Platteville; a brother, Rodney of California; two sisters-in-law, Jeanie Spencer and Nellie Spencer; and nieces and nephews. Evelyn was preceded in death by her loving husband of 52 years, Merrill, on Oct. 6, 1994; four brothers, Oliver, Francis, Russell and Donald Spencer; and a sister, Helen Grunert. A one hour visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., with the funeral service beginning at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2002, at FITCH LAWRENCE SANFILLIPPO CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 6021 University Ave., with Father Will Smith presiding. Burial will follow at Rock Lake Cemetery, Lake Mills. Memorials may be made to the West Madison Senior Coalition, 517 N. Segoe Road, Madison, WI 53705, or the Middleton Outreach Ministry/Project for Older People, 7432 Hubbard Ave., Middleton, WI 53562. Evelyn had many happy times with her family, and all her life helped others in many ways. Cress Funeral Service Fitch Lawrence Sanfillippo 6021 University Ave. (608) 238-8406

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on October 17, 2002; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

The class year for Evelyn Ruth (Spencer) Millett is based on information in the 1937 edition of The Orange and Black yearbook, where she is pictured as a member of the June graduating class.