Ratzlaff, Mary Decker (1877-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 May 3 p. 5

Birth date: 1877 Nov 8

text of obituary:

. . .

• Mrs. J. J. Ratzlaff, 84, died April 26 at the Salem Home for Aged in Hillsboro. Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon at the Goertz Funeral Home in Hillsboro, after which the body was taken to Meno, Okla. for final services and burial at the New Hopedale Mennonite Church. Mrs. Ratzlaff was the widow of Rev. J. J. Ratzlaff, pastor of the New Hopedale Church for many years, whose death occurred in 1951. They formerly resided in Newton. Surviving are four daughters, one son, three brothers including J. H. Decker of Newton, one sister, one half-sister, one half brother, and 16 grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 May 17 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. J. J. RATZLAFF

Mary Decker Ratzlaff, daughter of John and Elizabeth Koehn Decker, was born near Moundridge, Kansas on Nov. 8, 1877. She was reared in a family of 17 children of which eight half brothers and sisters were older than she. She departed this life on April 26, 1962, at Hillsboro, Kansas at the age of 84.

On Dec. 26, 1898 she was united in marriage with John Ratzlaff. Soon after their marriage they moved to the Mennonite settlement at Meno, Okla. Here mother spent her first years of married life in true pioneer fashion, living in a sod house, caring for children under adverse conditions, and yet trying in every way to rear her family in the fear of the Lord.

To this union two sons and four daughters were born. The younger son, Paul, was tragically removed from the family by an automobile accident when he was 20 years of age. In 1948 the couple was privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. Less than three years later father was called to his eternal home. After this she said she wanted to live alone as she was able to take care of herself. This she was able to do until the last four years of her life when she entered the Home for the Aged at Hillsboro, Kansas.

In 1897 she was baptized by Peter Balzer and united with the Mennonite Church of the Canton community, now the Emmanuel Church. She moved her membership to the new Hopedale Mennonite Church at Meno, Okla. where her husband served as minister for many years. In 1926 when the family moved to Newton, Kansas, she transferred her membership to the Bethel College Church at Newton, where she lived until 1951. Wherever she moved she affiliated with the Mennonite church of the community, the last place being the First Mennonite Church of Hillsboro. During her active years in church work she enjoyed helping in mission projects of the women's societies.

Her family was always of primary concern, but her interest extended beyond this. Whenever visiting ministers, conference workers, friends, and relatives came to the community, they were always welcome in her home. In her later years she spent a great deal of time quilting, gardening, and caring for flowers which seemed to thrive under her tender care.

Those who will miss her most are her five children: Ruie and husband, Henry J. Becker of Ringwood, Okla., and their four children; Walter and wife Alice (Unruh) Ratzlaff of Lehigh, Kansas, and their five children; Sadie and husband, Dr. Edwin M. Harms of Wichita, Kansas, and their two daughters; Kathryn and husband Milford O. Blair of Hillsboro and their daughter; Esther and husband, Dr. John O. Schrag of McPherson and their two daughters. Besides these she leaves three brothers, Jacob H. Decker of Newton, Kansas, David Decker of Broken Bow, Okla., Jonas Decker of Galva, Kansas; one sister, Mrs. Anna Wedel of Galva; one half-brother, Ben Decker of Fairview, Okla.; and one half-sister, Mrs. Lizzie Hodel of Moundridge, Kansas.

The Mennonite obituary: 1962 May 15 p. 332