Mary was born on Oct. 12, 1928 in the Riverside Municipality of southern Manitoba.  The Peter Ratzlaff family arrived in Winkler, Manitoba in the fall of 1926 having immigrated from Russia and Mary was born two years later.  A number of families settled in this area and started farming.  There always was work to be done on the farm and at a young age Mary helped by gathering eggs and feeding the chickens. Mary loved the summer evenings best. They were often spent playing games such as anti-high-over or prisoner’s base.  Their favourite game was softball.  

There was a one room school two miles from their farm and that was where Mary went to school with her siblings and cousins.  

Mary was eleven years old when the family moved to British Columbia and settled on Laxton Road in the South Abbotsford area.  Mary went to school at Peardonville Elementary, and after finishing grade eight she decided to stay home and help care for her younger siblings and help out on the farm.

In summer many of the South Abbotsford teenagers would go to Yarrow and Arnold to pick berries.  This is where Mary met Jake Warkentin who happened to work for one of the farmers.  They spent time getting to know each by attending church events, picnics and singing evenings.  On May 27, 1949 Jake and Mary were married.  They were blessed with four children.  Alvin David, Judith Marie, Sharon Lynn and Rose Anne.

Mary was an excellent seamstress and enrolled in a sewing course to develop her skills.  She would make matching outfits for her daughters to celebrate Easter or Thanksgiving.  She loved nothing better than purchasing something from a thrift store for 50 cents, taking it apart and then creating a new outfit for herself.  She also did a lot of mending for her children and grandchildren.  She made articles of clothing for an African orphanage. Pajamas, tee shirts, summer dresses.  Her fridge was covered with pictures of children wearing the clothes she had made.

Mary loved to travel. Jake and Mary enjoyed going south in the winter months where she loved the warmer weather.  Numerous European trips, family fishing trips, and going to Disneyland were some of the highlights.

Mary always had a dream of living near water.  Jake and Mary co-purchased a house on Sheridan Lake where they spent many days with family and friends.  She loved to sit by the water and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.  Her dream had come true.

There were always jigsaw puzzles to be worked on and the latest Reader’s Digest magazine to be read.  Watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy were the evening’s entertainment.

Jake and Mary attended Bakerview Church for over 50 years.  Mary sang in the Senior’s Choir and served on the funeral committee.  She enjoyed sorting items at the MCC Thrift Store and she was a good customer there as well.

Jake, Mary’s husband of 74 years, passed away in May and after that her life was more difficult.  She missed him and four months later, on September 21 she peacefully passed away.  Family spent many hours by her side the last few weeks of her life.  We miss her.

She is survived by Alvin (Marjorie) Warkentin, Judy (Don) Nickel, Sharon (Steve) Richardson, Rose (Len) Loewen, 12 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.

Memorial service to be held on Oct. 20, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Bakerview Church.