Velma Irene Ratzlaff, 97, died Friday, March 18, 2022, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. She was born July 24, 1924, in rural Reno County to Edward and Louise (Kaufman) Schwartz. She grew up on a farm close to Pretty Prairie and attended Evening Star Grade School. Velma graduated from Pretty Prairie High School and attended Bethel College in North Newton. Richard Ratzlaff and Velma Schwartz were married on May 27, 1948, at First Mennonite Church, in Pretty Prairie.
Velma led a very active life. She stepped into the role of pastor's wife and helped at many of the churches Rich pastored. Rich and Velma lived and worked as a team in churches from Deer Creek, OK, Chicago, IL, Holland, PA, Liberal and Hutchinson. She also held jobs at Penn Fruit in Pennsylvania and worked in the dietary department at Hutchinson Hospital for many years. Velma and Rich spent 4 years as Co-Directors at Camp Mennoscah at Murdock. They retired from there to the family farm near Cheney Lake in 1988. Velma and Rich spent 25 years enjoying their rural retirement.
During Velma's retirement years she volunteered at TTV- ETC Shop in Hutchinson. She continued to garden, preserving her harvest and entertaining family and friends on the farm. Velma and Rich enjoyed traveling and taking trips with their family. Her biggest enjoyment was having family together and being involved with her grandchildren, Jen and Brian. Velma and Rich moved to Mennonite Friendship Communities in South Hutchinson in 2014. They enjoyed their time there catching up with longtime friends and making new friends.
Survivors are: sons, Tim of Newton, Tom (Donna) of Newton; grandchildren, Jen (Cody) Buchanan of Denver, CO, Brian Ratzlaff of Lawrence; great-grandchildren, Dylan and Julian Buchanan. Velma was preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Richard; and sisters, Cora (Lawrence) Schrag and Helen (Mel) Flickinger.
Visitation with the family will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 30, 2022, with Tonya Ramer Wenger presiding. Both will be held at First Mennonite Church of Hutchinson, 52 Rambler Road, Hutchinson, KS. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Elliott Mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Mennonite Church of Hutchinson or Mennonite Friendship Communities in South Hutchinson, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501. Visit the Elliott Mortuary website to leave personal condolences for Velma's family.