Clara Hall

Funeral service were held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at the United Methodist Church, Highmore with Pastor Roger Day officiating.  Burial followed at the Highmore Cemetery.  Visitation was held one hour prior to the funeral at the church.

Clara Mable Ratzlaff was born on August 24, 1907 to Isaac and Eva (Boese) Ratzlaff at their home ten miles south of Highmore.  As a young girl she attended the South Eagle Township Elementary School and then attended Highmore High School.

On July 11, 1942, she married Elias Hall at the Church of Christ in Highmore.  They made their home on a farm near Huron, SD.  To this union three children were born.  The first child died as an infant, Janice was born in January 1944 and Melvin in September 1945.  In 1947, Elias and Clara moved their family to Miller, SD.  Elias passed away on October 30, 1951 in Miller, SD leaving Clara to raise the children, ages seven and six, on her own.  Following Elias’ death, Clara moved her family to Highmore, SD to be closer to her family.  She worked part time at the Sale Barn Café and spent many hours at the Senior Citizens Center where she helped with kitchen work.  On March 21, 1981 Clara married Otto Hoff.  Otto passed away on July 4, 1987.

Clara worshipped at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church, now known as The Grace Bible Church.  She taught children’s Sunday school for many years and belonged to the Christian Women’s group.  She was a faithful follower of God and spent many hours reading the Bible.  Clara memorized Bible verses and shared with the family and also at the Senior Center.  She shared her faith everywhere she went.  Her family was very important to her and she loved going to all the family events.  She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Clara was able to stay in her home until she was 104 and she was appreciative to her family for making that possible.

She is survived by her daughter, Janice (Bill) Shanks of New Lenox, IL and her children and grandchildren: Marie (Bryan) Fritch and children, Joshua and Ethan Fritch all of Sylvania, OH; Tim Shanks of New Lenox, IL; Sarah (Tom) Kohl and their children, Brian, Laura, Nathan, and Megan of Plainfield, IL; and Charity (Jason) Nowicki and their children, Noelle and Aaron of Plainfield, IL; her son, Melvin (Myrna) Hall of Highmore and his children and grandchildren: Brad (Sarah) Hall and their children, Aiden and Austin of Sioux Falls, and Chad (Paula) Hall and his children, Alex, Nate, Noah and Abby of Highmore; two brothers: Sidney Ratzlaff of Boise, ID and Leroy (Rena) Ratzlaff of Highmore; sisters-in-law: Laura Ratzlaff, widow of Alvin, of Springfield, MO, Grace Ratzlaff, widow of Leslie, of Lake Wales, FL, and Frances Ratzlaff, widow of Orville, of Highmore, SD and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elias Hall; brothers: Gilbert, Alvin, a set of twins, Leslie, Arnold, Orville, and Willis; sisters: Esther, Rosa, Ida, Virginia, Florence, Mary, and Ruby; two sisters-in-law; two brothers-in-law; and her second husband, Otto Hoff.