Plenert, Bena Ratzlaff (1873-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Jul 18 p. 5

Birth date: 1873 Jan 29

text of obituary:

Hillsboro Pioneer Died at Age 84

Hillsboro, Kan. — Death removed another of the early day residents of this community with the passing on July 6 of Mrs. Bena (Ratzlaff) Plenert, 84, at the Salem Hospital here.

Funeral services were held July 10 at the Johannestal Mennonite Church, in charge of the pastor, Rev. Esko Loewen.

Mrs. Plenert was born in Polish Russia and was brought to thi country by her parents in 1873, at the age of 11 weeks. They first settled in Michigan, coming to Hillsboro in 1885. Here she married Cornelius Plenert, who died in 1913.

Surviving are seven children and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Sep 12 p. 8

text of obituary:

BENA RATZLAFF PLENERT

Bena Ratzlaff Plenert, daughter of Henry W. and Anna Welms [sic Wilms] Ratzlaff, was born in Poland on Jan.29, 1873.

At the age of 11 weeks she came to the United States with her parents and settled in Michigan. In 1876 the family moved to Yankton, S. D. and in 1880 they moved back to Michigan again. In 1885 they moved to Hillsboro, Kan. where she spent the greater part of her life.

On Dec. 19, 1890, at the age of 17, she was baptized by Rev. John B. Baer and joined the Mennonite church of which she remained a faithful member to the end.

On Nov. 10, 1892, she was united in marriage with our father, Cornelius J. Plenert, who preceded her in death March 13, 1913. Father and mother were permitted to live together for only 21 years, when he died and she was with seven children. All the children were permitted to be at her funeral.

She was always a loving mother, and met us with a smile when we came to see her. We never heard her complain, even when her health failed. She was always in church services when her health permitted, which, however, was not often the last few years.

Mother loved music and appreciated it very much when someone came to sing for her. The last couple of years we found her many times sitting on the divan reading her Bible and having her song book beside her.

On Feb. 13, 1957, mother fell. She had a stroke and had been bedfast ever since. On Feb. 15 she was taken to the Salem Hospital where she spent four weeks under the loving care of doctor and nurses. She gained enough strength to go again to her home, where her daughters took care of her until July 3, when she entered the hospital again. She was released from all suffering and sorrow when she fell asleep and quietly passed to her eternal reward on Saturday, July 6, 1957, at 5:15 p. m. Her age was 84 years, five months and eight days.

She leaves to treasure her memory four sons; Arnold, William, Edwin and Arlo, all of Hillsboro, Kan.; three daughters, Mary Ratzlaff of Gray, Okla., Bena Pankratz of Kanorado, Kan., and Anna Plenert, Hillsboro, Kan., four daughters-in-law; two sons-in-law; 20 grandchildren, one preceding her in death; 23 great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Mary Janzen of Los Angeles, Calif.; and a host of relatives and friends. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord . . . their works do follow them.”

Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 10, at the Johanestal Mennonite Church, Hillsboro, Kan. with Rev. Esko Loewen in charge.