Elaine Ratzlaff

Elaine Blanche (Dodge) Ratzlaff, of St. James, died on Friday, October 3, 2025, at Pleasant View Nursing Home in St. James.

Funeral service will be Friday, October 10, 2025, at 11:00 am, at Hosanna Free Lutheran Church in St. James with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Mount Hope cemetery in St. James. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in St. James. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Elaine was born to George W. and Amelia C. (Marth) Dodge, on a blustery morning on November 14, 1937, on a farm south of St. James. Elaine attended the St. James country school for 3 years until the family moved to town when she was 9. She attended St. James public school and graduated in May 1957. She married Milton Ratzlaff of Mt. Lake, MN, on October 7, 1957. They chose to live in Mt. Lake, then moved in 1959 after Sheila and the twins were born, and made St. James their permanent home. They were married 59 years until Milton's death on October 13, 2016.

Elaine worked at Tony Downs Foods before working in the kitchen at Pleasant View Nursing Home for a total of 32 years, first as a cook's helper, and then was promoted to cook. She worked at Pleasant View from March 1, 1971 until her retirement on April 14, 2003. After retirement, she volunteered at the information desk at the Mayo Health System-St. James for 5 years.

Milton and Elaine shared a deep passion for family genealogy, dedicating many years to researching their ancestry. Their vacations often included visits to courthouses and cemeteries across various states as they pieced together the rich tapestry of their family's past. Their dedication resulted in several family history books-projects they took great pride in, especially as they successfully traced their lineage back many generations.

They loved bringing the family together-especially through reunion picnics, holiday celebrations, and other special gatherings-where there were always stories and laughter. Some of their most fond memories included family vacations, many of them on motorcycle, and Milton was very proud to ride alongside his twin sons on their matching Kawasakis.

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband and her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Sheila Ratzlaff-Chute; twin sons, Curtis (Jennie) Ratzlaff, and Keith (Mary) Ratzlaff, and daughter, Shirley (John) Coleman; grandchildren, Emily (Justin) Johnson, Alicia (Forrest) Razo, Claire Ratzlaff, Macy (John) Carlson, Amanda Ratzlaff, Megan Ratzlaff, and Daniel (fiancé Bailey Haseman) Coleman; great grandchildren, Sophia, Abel and Ella Mae Razo, sister, Faye Ratzlaff; brothers-in-law, Eldean Ratzlaff and Harold Becker; and nieces and nephews.