Ratzlaff, Bertha Kathrine Reimer (1916-1944)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Jan 6 p. 5

Birth date: 1916 Jan 6

text of obituary:

Local News

. . .

— Mrs. Jake Ratzlaff of Peabody died of the flu at the Bethesda hospital at Goessel last Sunday morning. She is survived by her grief-stricken husband and two children. Funeral services are to be held Thursday afternoon, January 6, at 1:00 o'clock at the home of her parents, Mrs. and Mrs. T. U. Reimer, and at 2:00 o'clock at the Alexanderwohl Church.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Jan 20 p. 3

text of obituary:

MRS. BERTHA REIMER RATZLAFF

Mrs. Bertha Kathrine Reimer, adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. U. Reimer, was born January 6, 1916. In her early childhood days she lost her loving Christian mother through death, but her Heavenly Father took care of her, and at the age of six she was adopted into the Reimer home. She received her primary education in the Gordon grade school, where because of her scholastic ability, she was able to finish her work in seven years. The following two years she attended the Goessel high school.

During her adolescent life she regularly attended the Sunday School and services of the Alexanderwohl church. On June 4, 1933, she was baptized upon the confession of her faith by the Elder P. H. Unruh, and thus became a member of the church. She remained a faithful member of the Alexanderwohl church until the end.

On June 17, 1937, the deceased was united in holy matrimony with Jake Ratzlaff, and the couple made their home on a farm near Goessel. For the short span of six and one-half years they were privileged to share their joys and sorrows together. Into this happy union were born two daughters.

She developed a severe cold on the night of December 31, and was taken to the Bethesda Hospital immediately in the morning. Her cold developed into influenza, and, although the doctor and nurses did all that could be done and many a prayer was sent to heaven to spare her young life, God's plans were differently made. He called her home to be forever with the Lord an Sunday morning,January 2, at 7:00 A.M., at the age of 27 years, 11 months, and 27 days. Had she lived, this day would have marked her 28th birthday.

Bertha led a true Christian life and will be greatly missed in the family circle and by her many friends. To her husband she was always a loving, faithful wife, and to her children she was a considerate and devoted mother. Although she could not say good-bye to us, we know she is waiting to greet us on the other shore.

She leaves to mourn her early departure her bereaved husband, Jake Ratzlaff; two daughters,Judith Ellen, 5, and Delores June, 3; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. U. Reimer; one brother, Edward; one sister, Rosella; her mother-in-law, Mrs. Andrew Ratzlaff; four brothers-sin-law, and six sisters-sin-law. Also surviving are two brothers who, when the childhood home was broken by the death of the mother, dying also of influenza, were separated from her.

Bertha dear, we know not why
The Lord permitted you to die;
We can but take Him by the hand
Who took you to the promised land
And trust that He does all things well
He'll keep you safe, till we shall be
Together in eternity.
There, there in that great glory land,
We'll see the why and understand,
And say, the Lord did all things well.

Funeral services were held in the Alexanderwohl church Thursday, January 6, at 2:00 P.M. Rev. David Wedel and Missionary P. A. Penner were in charge. Interment was made in the church cemetery.