Sharon Lee Ratzlaff

Sharon Lee Ratzlaff, 71, died Friday, July 3, 2009 at the Freeman Regional Medical Center, Freeman, SD. Funeral services will be at 2:00pm Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at the Bethany Mennonite Church, Freeman with burial in the Schartner Cemetery, rural Marion. Visitation will be from 6-8:00pm Monday with family present at the church. Arrangements by Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home, Parker. Sharon Lee Otten , daughter of Elmer R. Otten and Bernadine (Sletten) and step father Noble Voagen, was born on May 28, 1938 at Sioux Falls, SD. She attended grade and high school at Parker, SD, graduating from Parker High School in 1956. Sharon worked as a medical assistant for several years at the Parker Clinic and in Sioux Falls. On February 8, 1964 she was united in marriage to Willis B. Ratzlaff at Grace Lutheran Church in Parker. They farmed and lived on Willis’ parents home place near Freeman. To this union three children were born; Kurt, Christopher, and Patrick. Four more children joined the family by adoption; Shantel, Donnie, Melanie, and Justin. In 1967 Sharon became a member of the Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman where she was an active member, serving in the areas of Sunday school, christian education, council, and music. Sharon was a great lover of christian music, singing in the choir, small groups, and solo work. She loved to sing to her children and spend time reading her Bible. Children were very important to Sharon’s life. She and Willis were licensed foster parents for the State of South Dakota for 44 years, caring and loving 151 children. Leaving to mourn her passing are her husband Willis, son Kurt and wife Nicole ( their children Tyler, Jada, Elizabeth, Nick, and Nathan), Sioux Falls, son Chris Ratzlaff, Warroad, MN, son Patrick Ratzlaff, Olympia, WA, daughter Shantel ( her daughter Brea), Inver Groves Heights, MN, Donnie Ratzlaff, Redfield, SD, and Justin L. Ratzlaff, Freeman, SD, a daughter Melanie (Peter Thingelsad) ( sons Marquese and Ian), Parker, SD. Her eight grandchildren brought her much joy. She leaves to mourn 2 sisters by adoption, Bonnie Voagen and sons Josh and Justin, Yankton, SD, Lynn (Karl) Holmes and daughters Ashley and Paige of Elberon, IA, and a brother Perry, Wagner, SD, two nieces, April (Glenn) Isbell and children of Arlington, TX, Melissa Hubbard, South Lake, TX and three special foster daughters, Elsie Blakey and family, Omaha, NE, Silver Rey Brandt, Freeman, SD, and Tory Selwyn, Buffalo, WY.