Rena Ratzlaff, 90, of Highmore, passed away Monday, May 24, 2021, at the Avera St. Mary’s Hospital, Pierre after a battle with Alzheimer’s and congestive heart failure.

Memorial service will be at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, June 12, 2021, at the Church of Christ in Highmore with Pastor Jeffry McKean officiating.

Rena Ratzlaff was born October 5, 1930, to Hanna Marie and Anthony Leslie Greenberg on a farm a mile north of the small town of Nowthen, Minnesota.  She was the youngest of 4 children.   Country school and her grandfather’s garden and apple trees were part of her memories of growing up.  She ice-skated and played in the creek by the house.

Rena attended Elk River, Minnesota high school and graduated in 1948.   She attended St. Paul Bible College in St. Paul Minnesota for 2 years.   She spent a summer in Kentucky doing mission work with the miners and their families.  She worked for Bell Telephone Company as office help and in the mail room.

Rena met LeRoy Ratzlaff while they were counselors at a Christian and Missionary Alliance church camp at Big Sandy Lake in northern Minnesota.   They married June 15, 1955, in Nowthen, Minnesota.

LeRoy moved Rena to a small farmhouse on his father’s farm.   Rena raised some chickens and kept an eye on the cattle when they came into the yard.   During that time, they lived on this farm site they had Patricia in 1956, Marilyn and Beverly in 1957 and Annette, Lucille, and Yvonne in 1959.

The family moved to a larger house a short distance from LeRoy’s parents’ house.   During the time they were there the first boy, Myron was born in 1961.  Rena would at times help with driving truck starting in the early 1960’s.  She helped with Sunday school at this time with flannel graphs and reading Bible stories.  The Eagle Township country school had her assist at times as a teacher’s aide.

Rena moved to the big house with her family in 1968.  This gave her more room and running water with indoor toilets and a bathtub.    In 1970 Victor was born.  Rena was still driving truck at times and raising chickens.  She made sure the chores were done and guided the children with shocking corn and other chores.

During the time her children were there Rena taught several of children how to read a recipe and helped with the 4H projects.  She usually had cookies or cake for snack after school for the children.   She always attended the events at Eagle Township School and at Highmore High school that her children participated in.

Church provided the adult socialization for Rena with the ladies group that met once a month.  She was involved in Sunday school and rarely missed a church event.

Rena helped LeRoy with the nursing home services and was Mrs. Claus at some of the Christmas parties for the residence.  Rena helped at the nursing home several years as a dietary aide with Dolly Abernathy.

One of Rena’s greatest joys was when she got an apple tree from Gurney’s, and it lived and produced apples.   This would remind her of Minnesota where she grew up.

She is survived by her children: Patricia Muser, Marilyn Hanson, Beverly Reisdorff, Lucille Vandervorst, Yvonne Ulmer, Annette Sewright, Myron Ratzlaff, and Victor Ratzlaff; and many grandchildren; and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy; brother, Kermit; brothers, Clifford, and Vernon; grandson, Samuel Reisdorff; and son-in-law, Doran Bartscher.

Cards can be sent to Rena Ratzlaff family P.O. Box 239, Highmore, SD  57345.  Charitable donations to the Gideon Bible Society.

Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Rena’s arrangements.

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