Becker, Maria Ratzlaff (1874-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Jan 18 p. 8

Birth date: 1874 Mar 15

text of obituary:

MRS. MARIA BECKER

Maria Ratzlaff Becker was born in Franztal, South Russia on March 15, 1874, and departed this life to be with her Lord and Savior early in the morning on April 12, 1961, living to be 87 years and 28 days.

She came to the United States with her parents, Rev. and Mrs. Abraham Ratzlaff, when she was but a few months old. They spent 18 days on the ship from Hamburg, Germany to New York City and arrived there on August 16, 1874. They began their pioneer life in America on a farm six miles east of Buhler, where she grew to womanhood.

After she was married, in the year 1907, she went with her husband and family to live in Stanton County in western Kansas for a number of years. Returning to the Buhler community, the Becker family lived on several farms near Buhler. Mother Becker lived a total of 41 years at the home place three miles south of town together with her daughter, Eva, who was her helping companion through her declining years. She spent the last months prior to her passing with her daughter Eva in Buhler.

On May 22, 1895 she was baptized upon her confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by Rev. Dietrich Gaeddert, and was received into the Hoffnungsau church near Inman. In 1907 she transferred her membership to the Mennonite Church near Roanoke, Kansas, and on April 25, 1954 she united with the Buhler Mennonite church, where she remained a faithful member until her death.

She was united in marriage to John P. Becker on May 24, 1894. He preceded her in death on April 27, 1925. This union was blessed with six children. She leaves to mourn her departure three daughters, Mrs. George Plett of Buhler, Eva Becker of the home, and Mrs. Johnnie Plett of Turpin, Okla.; three sons, Henry J. of Forgan, Okla., Abe J. of Hutchinson, and John of South Hutchinson; two brothers, A. A. Ratzlaff of Buhler, and John A. Ratzlaff of Moundridge; a sister, Mrs. John H. Epp of Hutchinson; nine grandchildren, seven great grand-children, and many friends and relatives.

She was a loving and devoted mother and lived a life of service for her family and friends. One of her favorite Bible verses was Psalm 23:4: "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."