Ratzlaff, Agnes Buller (1878-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Dec 13 p. 8

Birth date: 1878 Jan 18

text of obituary:

MRS. AGNES RATZLAFF

Our mother, Agnes Buller Ratzlaff, was born to David D. and Eva Jantz Buller on Jan. 18, 1878 in Warsaw, Russia. At the age of six months she came to the United States with her parents who settled near Peabody, Kansas. Later they moved to the Hillsboro community.

At the age of 14 years she found the Lord precious as her Saviour and was baptized by Rev. John Gerbrandt and received as a member into the Johanestal [sic Johannestal] Church near Hillsboro. When she came with her parents to a farm near Fairview, Okla. in 1894, she became a member of the Saron Mennonite Church near Orienta.

On May 23, 1903 she was united in marriage to our father, Herman H. Ratzlaff, and shared joy and sorrow with him as they labored under many difficulties to improve a claim for their home near Boyd, Okla. They affiliated with the Friedensfeld Mennonite Church at Turpin, Okla. and went there to worship as often as possible. On this new claim as they pioneered, three children were born to the union, Laurena, who died in infancy, and two sons, Alvin of Meno and Vernon of Boyd, Okla.

In 1938 they retired to a home in Meno, Okla. and joined the New Hopedale Mennonite Church.

She loved especially to help with the mission society work when she was able. Father died July 27, 1950, but she continued to trust the Lord and lived alone in her home doing her own housework for a number of years.

In 1960 she was hospitalized for a heart ailment and had several months of rest in the homes of her two sons. When she became stronger she went back to housekeeping in her home again, but on Oct. 1, 1961 she went to live in the Senior Fellowship Home in Fairview, Okla. She enjoyed the fellowship there. In February of this year she suffered a light stroke. On Oct. 22 she was taken to the hospital in Fairview where she passed from our presence.

She leaves to mourn her passing her two sons and their wives; four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren; three brothers, Ben, David, and Herman; three sisters, Mrs. John Ratzlaff, Mrs. J. D. Thiessen, and Mrs. John Thomas.

Our mother and grandmother slipped away from us on Oct. 26 to be with the Lord, where there is fulness of eternal joy forevermore.

The Mennonite obituary: 1962 Nov 20 p. 747