Ratzlaff, Sarah Florence Duerksen (1884-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 May 5 p. 8

Birth date: 1884 Sep 21

text of obituary:

MRS. J. D. RATZLAFF

Mrs. Sarah Florence Ratzlaff, nee Duerksen, was born to Jacob and Katharine Duerksen on Sept. 21, 1884 at Lehigh, Kansas.

At the age of 14 years she sensed her spiritual need and accepted Christ as her own Savior. She was baptized by Rev. Henry Schroeder and joined the Mennonite Brethren church at Lehigh.

Her early education was acquired at the Lehigh schools and later she attended preparatory schools at Hillsboro and McPherson, Kansas. Upon completing her training, she taught in the public school at Fairview, Okla.

On June 9, 1906, she was united in marriage of Jacob D. Ratzlaff at Orienta, Okla. After marriage she continued her teaching career for another season. This marriage union with J. D. Ratzlaff was blessed with eight children, of whom three died in infancy.

In 1909 she and her husband moved to California where she was active in church affairs. She became a charter member of the Rosedale Mennonite Brethren church in the fall of 1909, and except for several years spent at Reedley, Calif., she remained a member until her death.

In the fall of 1954, while with her husband on a trip to Mountain Lake, Minn., she suffered as light stroke at Wichita, Kansas. However, she continued on the trip, no one realizing the severity of the ailment. After returning home, she recovered sufficiently so that she could do her own homework.

In June of 1956 she and her husband celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, at which time their pastor, Rev. P. N. Hiebert, proclaimed them life-members of the Rosedale congregation.

She never fully regained her health and strength during these years, and on Sept. 19, 1957, she suffered another, more severe stroke, from which she never completely recovered. Since she needed to have complete rest, they left the farm and moved to Shafter, Calif. in March 1959. After only about one year in the new home, where her husband lovingly cared for her, she went to be with the Lord on March 25, 1960, at about 4:15 o'clock in the morning, having reached the age of 75 years, six months, and five days.

Left to mourn her passing are her husband, Jacob D. Ratzlaff of Shafter; one son, Herbert and Adina Ratzlaff of Wasco; four daughters, Nettie and Ora Auernheimer and Bertha and Ernest Flaming of Reedley, Mary Neufeld of Shafter, and Hulda Edna and William Haag of Bakersfield; 12 grandchildren, ten greatgrandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends. Her entire immediate family (parents, four sisters and three brothers), one granddaughter and one grandson preceded her in death.

She leaves to “follow after” a testimony of love for her Lord Jesus; she prayed daily and read the Word of God as long as her eyesight permitted.