Edna Ratzlaff, nee Heidebrecht, was called home on January 17, 2014, at the age of 97. She slipped away peacefully at the Prairie Pioneers Lodge in Swift Current. Edna was born April 1, 1916, at home on the farm near Rush Lake, SK to Cornelius & Anna Heidebrecht, the second oldest of 10 children. She attended the SaltLake School, completing Grade 7, then helped her parents with her younger siblings until her marriage to Corney Ratzlaff on July 1, 1934, at the Turnhill MB Church. She was a faithful member of this church, teaching Sunday School, participating in Bible studies and special services. After the church closed in 1970, Mom and Dad worshipped with the congregations at the Nordlund and Capeland churches until they retired to Swift Current in 1972. Here they became active in the Open Bible Church, where they enjoyed worshipping with many of their friends and relatives who also attended there. Mom worked alongside her husband, struggling to make a living through the hardships of the Dirty Thirties and beyond, raising four children as well. Their first home was a homesteader's shack (complete with dirt floor) near the South Saskatchewan River. Later, they moved to the farm house on NE 19-18-11 in the Prairie View district. Mom loved flowers, she always had a large garden with gladiolus, pansies, morning glories and California poppies blooming among the rows of vegetables. The produce was harvested and preserved for the long months of winter, along with canned chicken, beef and salt pork. Her kitchen was always busy and the children loved the smells of fresh bread and buns baking in the coal and wood stove. Mom sewed clothes for herself and her family, utilizing whatever materials were available. After moving to Swift Current, Mom took a course in homecare and worked in this field for several years.
Edna was predeceased by her parents, Cornelius & Anna; parents-in-law, John C. & Minnie Ratzlaff; brothers, Clarence (Annie), Harvey, Leslie and Marvin; sisters, Myrtle (husbands, Alfred Graik and Louie Simonar), Esther (Harold Shaw), Viola (Cy Tweeten), and Bessie (Alfred Beckett); brothers-in-law, Jerry Funk, Aaron (Anne) Ratzlaff, Herman (Anne) Ratzlaff, Barney Ratzlaff (Dora, her second husband Cornie, and a son John); daughter-in-law, MaryAnn; grandson, Michele (in infancy); and by a great-granddaughter, Laura (in infancy).
She is survived by her children, Ann (Harvey) Hoffman of Lethbridge, AB, Eileen (Frank) Dyck of Abbotsford, BC, and Cliff (Judy) Ratzlaff of Swift Current, SK; grandchildren, Wade (Jacquie) Hoffman of Duchess, AB, Kevin (Anne) Hoffman of Raleigh, NC, Tim (Cindy) Hoffman of Red Deer, AB, Sherry (Ken) Barrus of Cardston, AB, Russ (Maureen) Ratzlaff of Medicine Hat, AB, Kelly (Vicki) Ratzlaff of Washington, PA, Milena (Derek) Campbell of Abbotsford, BC, Monica Dyck of Vancouver, BC, Shauna (Ted) Woelk of Avenal, CA, Stacey (Curtis) Urquhart of Kindersley, SK; great-grandchildren, Logan, Nate, Jason, Amanda, Aaron, Devin, Taryn, Matthew, Winston, Anthony, Charlotte, Simone, Brandon, Micheal (Andrea), Shawn, Nikki, Amanda, Jacquie, William, Elyssa, Amy, William, Phillip, Heidi, Cameron, Dale, MacKenzie and Alaina; sister, Loreen of Calgary, AB; sisters-in-law, Jessie of Medicine Hat, AB, Darlene of Medicine Hat, AB, and Heidi of Calgary, AB; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Edna spent the last few years of her life at the Prairie Pioneers' Lodge in Swift Current, her loss of memory and deterioration of health left her unable to take care of herself. We are so thankful for and grateful to the staff at the Lodge, who cared for Mom with compassion, kindness, and love. We know God will reward you for your devotion to those in your care.
The Funeral Service was held on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at 2:00 pm from the Church of the Open Bible, Swift Current, SK with Pastor Rob Cochrane officiating. The pianist for the service was Barb Klassen with special music brought by Harold Gerbrant and Brent & Rhonda Witman singing, “I’ll Fly Away” and “In The Garden”. “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” was sung by the congregation. The Interment Service was held at the Turnhill Cemetery in the Prairie View District. In memory of Edna Ratzlaff, donations made to Gideons International would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK. For further information or to sign the Family Book of Condolences, please go to swiftcurrentfuneralhome.com.