November 21, 2003

Former Feed and Fuel bartender Millie Ritter memorialized by her friends

By Julie Davis Berry
Executive Editor

Millie Ritter, Almaden Feed and Fuel’s former bartender passed away on Oct. 31 and her many friends gathered last weekend at the restaurant/bar to memorialize their friend. The 73-year old had suffered from breast cancer for ten years and she passed away in Tuscon while visiting her son and grandson.

The memorial service was a happy ‘no tears allowed’ affair with many funny stories shared about the woman who former Almaden Feed and Fuel owner Blondie Barnd described as “a mom to a lot of the guys who came in here.”

Linda Guzman, who worked with Ritter at the Feed and Fuel, said that her friend had worked at just about every bar in the area. “Millie catered to bikers and she never knew a stranger. If you came in and you were feeling sad you felt good by the time you left. She treated people like they were in her living room.”

Guzman said that if someone came in who was down on their luck and needed a loan she’d give it to them, no questions asked. “Millie had a heart of gold,” said Guzman.

Ritter leaves behind five children and several grandchildren.