Helen Harriet Hollingsworth Buttemiller

Helen Harriet Hollingsworth Buttemiller passed away peacefully on March 1, 2022.  Harriet, as she was known to all, was a loving wife, doting mother and proud Nana. She was a loyal friend to so many people and the perfect combination of wit, steel and kindness.  Things that brought her great joy were playing golf in the warm Arizona sun, afternoons of playing cards with her bridge group, her exquisitely decorated Christmas tree (as well as all things Christmas), her beloved Green Bay Packers and most of all her family.

Harriet was born to Helen Riddell Hollingsworth and Dr. John Southwick Hollingsworth on February 22, 1941 in Sheboygan, WI. She attended Grant Grade School and graduated from Sheboygan North High School in 1959. She then attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL where she was a member of Delta Gamma. Harriet earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, graduating in 1963. While at Northwestern, she met the love of her life, Dr. Robert (Bob) Buttemiller. They were married on September 19, 1964.  In 1968 Bob was drafted into the United States Air Force. Thus began a life of travel and adventure for Harriet and her family.  Over the next 30 years they would live in various places including The Philippines, Florida, Texas, Hawaii, California, New Mexico and Arizona.  Harriet embraced the life of a military spouse, joining the Officers Wives Clubs at every base where they were stationed.  Her mantra was “bloom where you are planted” and she would speak that phrase to her children often. Upon retirement, Harriet and Bob moved back to their happy place, Litchfield Park, AZ. They were active members of The Wigwam Country Club where Harriet served a term as president of ladies’ golf. The friendships Harriet and Bob made while in the military and then back in Litchfield Park were for life. When Harriet lost Bob in January, the outpouring of love and support she received from everyone meant so much to her.

Harriet is survived by her three children, Maggie and husband Jeff Dietert of Houston, TX, Carrie and husband Peter DeWitt of San Antonio, TX and John and wife Sara Buttemiller of Palm Desert, CA as well as six grandchildren, Carlie and Kyle Dietert, Jack and Charlie DeWitt, and Natalie and Henry Buttemiller. She is also survived by her brother Will Hollingsworth and his fiancé, Lin Van Koevering of Green Valley, AZ, her sister-in-law Jacky Hollingsworth of La Canada, CA, and her sister-in-law B.G. Bates of Bolinas, CA as well as many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Colonel (Ret.) Robert Buttemiller MD, her mother, Helen “Fuzzy” Hollingsworth, her father, Dr. John “Doc” Hollingsworth, her brother, John Hollingsworth and her sister-in-law, Mary Ann Testwuide Hollingsworth.

In lieu of flowers, Harriet’s family prefers a donation be made to a charity of your choosing in her honor.