Ratzlaff, Helena Schmidt (1853-1938)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1938 Mar 22 p. 14

Birth date: 1853 Sep 26

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1938 Feb 23 p. 5

text of obituary:

LOCAL

. . .

—Coming quite unexpectedly, the death of Mrs. Helena Ratzlaff, wife of Rev. Abr. Ratzlaff of Buhler, occurred at the Bethel Hospital early Monday morning. Mrs. Ratzlaff had been brought to the hospital on Sunday, seriously ill from heart trouble. Thus death has parted one of the best known aged couples among Mennonites in this part of the state. Mrs. Ratzlaff was 74 years of age, although her husband is considerably older. Funeral services will be held at the Hoffnungsau church at Inman on Friday afternoon. Among the children surviving are H. A. Ratzlaff, and Mrs. Ratzlaff, of this city.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1938 Mar 9 p. 3

text of obituary:

Mrs. Abraham Ratzlaff

Helena Ratzlaff, nee Schmidt, was born September 26, 1853, in the village of Franstahl, Southern Russia. Here she also received her education in the village school under the able teacher, Gerhard Duerksen. The father died when she was only nine years of age, and she received a Chrstian-minded stepfather in Heinrich Schulz, in whose home she grew up to womanhood. In her youth she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and was on the day of Pentecost, 1871 baptized upon the confession of her faith, by Elder Franz Goertz, and thus united with the Rudnerweide Mennonite Church.

On May 1, 1873, she was united into the bonds of holy matrimony with Abraham Ratzlaff, with whom she was premitted [sic] to share the joys and hardships of life for about 65 years. To this union ten children were born, five sons and five daughters; two sons and one daughter died in their infancy, and one daughter died when she was eleven years of age.

When in 1874 the emigration from Russia to America set in, Mr. and Mrs. Ratzlaff also joined the same and crossed the ocean on the ship Teutonia, coming to a farm in Harvey County, Kansas. On October 3 of said year they set foot upon the soil which has served them as home for more than fifty years. Here the departed went through the hardships of the pioneer days of Kansas, alter receiving the blessings of her labor and having a beautiful home. When here in Kansas, the Hoffnungsau Church was organized in 1876, both Mr. and Mrs. Ratzlaff joined the same at its organization and she has remained a faithful member of the same to the day of her departure. Many joys, but also many hardships she has experienced as wife of a minister and elder of a church, and as wife and mother in her home. She has helped to bear many of the burdens of the church, and has labored and prayed for the same. Her labors and prayers will not be in vain for now she will reap her reward. she was at rue wife, a loving and caring mother, and her love and her care will never be forgotten. we wish her well in the presence of Christ her savior after a long and weary life. We know that we will meet her again when we too will be gone to our reward, for she left us the definite assurance that she knew Christ was her personal Savior, and that through Grace he had accepted her as His child.

For several years she had been afflicted with heart weakness; this began to become more and more serious in the last year. She consulted physician's aid and was under his care. About New Year she was growing weaker, and the doctor's aid could give but temporary relief. On Sunday she suffered a severe attack of heart weakness and bronchial trouble. She was rushed to the Bethel Hospital late in the evening, but about 4:30 a. m. she quietly breathed her last and passed from us, never again to return.

In her home she will be greatly missed, especially by her bereaved husband. But god's ways are best, and we submit to his Will, till we too shall be called to meet Him.

She leaves to mourn her departure her husband, Abraham Ratzlaff,; three sons, Henry, of Newton, Kansas; Abraham and John, of Moundridge, and their wives and daughters-in-aw; three daughters: Marie, Mrs. J. P. Becker, of Buhler, Kansas; Helen, Mrs. J. H. Epp, and her husband of Hillsboro, Kansas and Anna, Mrs. G. B. Gaeddert, and her husband of Buhler, Kansas. Also 18 grandchildren; two sisters: Mrs. Heinrich Pauls, of Inman, Kansas; and Mrs. Peter Flaming, of Buhler, Kansas, and a large number of relatives and friends.

She reached the age of 85 years, four months, and twenty-five days. She had a desire to depart and be with Christ forever, where she will now see Him face to face.

Face to face with Christ, my Savior;
     Face to face, what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him
     Jesus Christ who died for me?

The bereaved family

The Mennonite obituary: 1938 Mar 22 p. 8