Johnson, Sarah Ratzlaff (1874-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 19 1958 Jun p. 8

Birth date: 1874 Mar 28

text of obituary:

SARAH RATZLAFF JOHNSON

Sarah Ratzlaff Johnson was born in Russia on March 28, 1874. She came to America with her parents when she was only six weeks [out of sequence in original: eral Home in charge of arrangements.] old.

Her parents made their home near Canton, Kansas where mother grew to young womanhood. She also received her schooling there. She accepted the Lord as her Savior and on March 17, 1881, was baptized by her father, Rev. John Razlaff, and received as a member into the Canton Mennonite Church.

On Sept. 16 she was united in marriage to John J. Johnson, by her uncle, Rev. Abraham Ratzlaff. One son was born to this union. After about seven years in Kansas they came to Oklahoma and settled on a farm two miles east of Meno. Here they joined the New Hopedale Mennonite Church.

In 1922 they left the farm and moved to Meno. Father preceded mother in death on Jan. 22, 1950. In March of that same year her children moved to Meno, and since then she had made her home with them.

On Jan. 6 of this year she fell and fractured her hip. After being hospitalized for nine weeks, she was taken home and cared for by her children. Her strength gradually failed and on Monday, May 12,she was taken back to the hospital and then to the nursing home in Enid. There she departed from this life on Thursday night, May 15, after an illness of more than four months, at the age of 84 years, one month and 18 days.

She leaves to mourn her departure one son Ben of Meno; one daughter-in-law; one foster daughter, Marie Coulter, also of Meno; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, two sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law, and many friends. One grandchild and one great-grandchild preceded her in death.

Mother suffered much during the last several months of her life, but her faith and her confidence was in the Lord her Saviour. We sorrow, but not as those without hope, for we know she now is at home with the Lord, whom she loved and served with a true heart.