Montana’s moral compass slipped a few degrees away from True North with the passing of Sue Bartlett on September 11 in Helena. Feminist, public servant, political leader and citizen activist, Sue Bartlett was a trailblazer, inspiration and conscience for both a generation of women and countless Montanans who have worked for progressive issues and social justice.
Janet Susan Bartlett was born on July 4, 1947 in Billings. The youngest of three children, Sue attended public schools and graduated from Billings West High School in 1965. A gifted student, Sue received a full tuition scholarship to Washington University in St. Louis where she earned a degree in history.
The Women’s Movement inspired Sue’s commitment to fight for gender equality, a passion which would remain at the center of her political activism for the rest of her life. After returning from St. Louis, she became involved in Montana’s effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and then to prevent rescission of Montana’s ratification. Sue was a board member of the Montana ERA Ratification Council, an organization dedicated to securing and protecting Montana’s ratification of the ERA. She also served as treasurer of the Montana Women’s Lobby, on the board of Montanans for Choice and as Chief of the Women’s Bureau in the Montana Department of Labor.
Bartlett’s commitment to public service continued to grow, and in 1982 she ran and was elected Clerk and Recorder of Lewis & Clark County. During her tenure, Sue modernized a woefully outdated and inefficient office, dramatically improving accountability and service for Lewis & Clark County citizens and taxpayers. Sue was especially concerned with barriers to voter participation, and was committed to seeing that people could exercise their constitutional right to vote. During that time she lobbied the Legislature on local issues affecting the Clerk’s office.
Blessed with a fierce intellect and a commitment to thoroughly understanding the complexities of any process, Sue served as assistant Secretary of the Senate in 1991. Learning the intricacies of legislative procedure through that role served her well when she was elected to the Montana State Senate in 1992. During her years in the Senate, Sue earned the reputation as one of the brightest, hardest working members of that body. As the late Mignon Waterman, her lifelong friend and fellow Democratic Senator told the Lee State Bureau, “She’s very quiet, but when she stands up and speaks people on both sides of the aisle listen. They know she’s knowledgeable and her opinions are well thought out.”
During her eight years in the Senate, Sue Bartlett continued to be an unwavering supporter of gender equality and reproductive freedom, but also championed issues vital to poor and working class Montanans. Speaking of the actions of the Republican Senate majority in 1995, Bartlett remarked, “I see a real orientation in the session toward being punitive toward people,” and that the worst treatment was directed at, “those who have the weakest voices in our society.” She was dedicated to protecting organized labor, essential social programs and the environment.
After her tenure in the Senate, Bartlett continued working for social justice as the Intake Officer for the Montana ACLU for five years. In 2005, she was appointed to the Montana Tax Appeal Board by Governor Schweitzer and confirmed by the Senate. She served on that Board for five years. As she had all her life, Sue remained active in the women’s movement, a variety of civic pursuits and the Montana Democratic Party, serving as a Montana delegate to two Presidential Conventions. Carol’s List recently honored Sue with a tree planted on the Capitol grounds.
Sue Bartlett was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Irene Bartlett and her beloved sister, Peg Bartlett. She was also preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Margaret McKathnie and William Henry Hitchcock, and by her paternal grandparents, Frederick James and Mary Langley Bartlett. She is survived by her husband and
soul mate Eugene Fenderson, her brother and sister-in-law, Donn and Dorothy Bartlett; her sister’s children, Amy Rosenleaf and Becky Bey; her brother’s children Debera Bartlett and Roger Bartlett. Also surviving Sue are Gene’s children, Chris, Michele, and Peter; his grandchildren, Sophie, Ben, Dante, Carmine, Tanner, Brichele, and Mark; and his great-grandchildren, Ethan and Aurora Oceana. She also leaves behind countless loving friends for whom she served as mentor, confidante, role model and muse.
With her quiet but powerful voice and manner, Sue Bartlett had a profound and lasting impact on the women’s movement and progressive politics in Montana over the past 40 years. She led by example, earned the respect of all who knew her, helped pave the way for the next generation of women political leaders and the love and admiration of countless friends.
Sue and her family want to thank Dr. Jessica Bailey and the nurses and aides from Hospice of St. Peter’s. Their care was exemplary and made a big difference to Sue in the last months of her life. Give those nurses a raise. They earn it every day!
Memorial services will be held at 4:30 pm, Sunday, October 1, 2017 at The Holter Museum. Sue requested that memorial contributions be made to the Montana Endowment for PBS, P. O. Box 173345, Bozeman, MT 59717 for all the hours of viewing pleasure PBS gave her.
With love and eternal gratitude, we thank you, Sue Bartlett. You were truly a moral compass for the people and the state you loved. You will always be remembered.
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