Ratzlaff, Anna Bergen (1894-1941)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1941 Dec 24 p. 2

Birth date: 1894 Aug 13
Date of Death: 1941 November 29

text of obituary:

Anna Bergen Ratzlaff

Anna Ratzlaff, nee Bergen, was born August 13, 1894, at Buhler, Kansas. In the fall of the same year the parents moved onto a farm near Corn, Oklahoma, where they still reside.

The deceased received her elementary education in the O. K. school near Corn, later attending the Gotebo Bible school for two years. In the year 1911 she was baptized upon the profession of her faith by Rev. John Flaming and became affiliated with the Bergthal church and remained a faithful and conscientious worker as long as she was able, taking active part in the Sunday School, sewing society and other church and mission work, teaching a number of years in Bible school.

On June 12, 1919, she entered into the holy state of matrimony with J. A. Ratzlaff, to which union were born three daughters and two sons.

For 22 years the family was privileged to share the sorrows and joys of life. As wife and mother she remains an example. In the summer of 1940 she found it necessary to submit to a cancer operation, which at the time seemed to have been successful. She was again able to attend church and also do some work in the home, but her condition again became worse and in July of this year came the decision by attending physicians that human help was unable to save her life.

It was a heavy blow to the family, and the congregation joined in many determined prayers, but we learned to pray "Thy will be done" and although it became a hard struggle to separate from her loved ones and her work, yet God gave victory and the grace to calmly await the call of the Master. She departed quietly and peacefully on Saturday afternoon at 5 o'clock, Nov. 29.

She reached the ge of 47 years, three months and sixteen days. She leaves to mourn her so early departure her husband, J. A. Ratzlaff,; her five children Leonard, Hilda, Elva, Irwin and Wilma; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. G. Bergen; three brothers, Rev. George Bergen, La Havre, Calif., Rev. John Bergen, Villa Park, Ill., and Rev. Sam Bergen, Wichita, Kans.; two sisters, Mrs. Cathryn Nickel and Miss Elizabeth Bergen and a host of friends.

We mourn not as such that have no hope, but we have the assurance that she is with her Savior where we hope to meet her on the great resurrection morning. — The bereaved family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1942 Jan 13 p. 7

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Buhler, Kansas
Daughter of Peter G. and Kathrina (Peters) Baergen
Married J. A. Ratzlaff 1919 June 12, Corn, Oklahoma
Homemaker -- Corn, Oklahoma

Bethel alumni note:
(Bethel student 1916-17?)

Photo holdings:
See Peter G. Baergen (1865-1962) for family photo

Sources:
MWR 12/21/41 p. 2
Baergen Heritage ... 1975, No. 5-32 p. 15
Grandma Profile #143828