Ruby Ann Ratke

A celebration of life and living the Christian Faith will be held for Ruby Ann (Schmidt) Ratke on Monday, April 25 at 2:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton, Oklahoma. Interment will be at Hatchett Cemetery in Bessie, OK under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. Ruby was born on December 6, 1926 to Rudolf and Olga (Krewall) Schmidt on the family farm between Corn and Bessie in Rural Washita County and passed away from this life to eternal glory on April 21, 2016 at her rural Bessie home, with her ever present smile on her face. She was given the best birthday present of all when she received the gift of God's forgiveness and rebirth through the waters of Holy Baptism on December 6, 1964. A favorite bible passage of Ruby's which she shared at that time is Romans 1:16: I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God's power to save all who believe. In early 1927 the family moved to the farm west of Bessie. Ruby attended school in Bessie and graduated from high school in Cordell. Ruby married the love of her life, Henry Ratke on December 31, 1948. Their marriage exemplified God's ideal marriage and they served each other up until the time of her death. God blessed their marriage with two sons, Michael and Paul. During her time here on earth, she lived a life of service as wife, role model, mentor and inspiration to those who knew her. While not in the military herself, Henry spent 23 years in the Air Force and Ruby was with him in San Antonio, TX, Amarillo, TX, Osaka Japan, Altus, OK, Fairbanks, Alaska, Kansas City, MO, Wichita Falls, TX and Sumter, SC. During this time Ruby found time to work having a Mobile home sales business in Amarillo and Altus, and serving as secretary to the base commander in Fairbanks, Alaska. While in Kansas City she was president of the NCO wives club and was a regular on the morning news talking about events planned at the Air Force Base. Once her sons were born, she became a full time mom and was active in their lives serving as Cub Scout Den Mother, PTA President, Band Booster President and spent many years as a Sunday School teacher. In 1977 Henry and Ruby returned to Bessie where they made their home on the farm where she grew up. They lived there until her passing. After her sons graduated from high school and left home, Ruby filled her time with teaching Sunday school, leading bible classes and delivering Meals on Wheels in Clinton. She fought a 45 year battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis and was in a nationally syndicated "Health Watch" news story and appeared on the front page of the Daily Oklahoman talking about her battle with the disease. Throughout the pain and suffering that comes from this disease she continued to maintain a positive attitude and example for others. Later in life Ruby was blessed withgrandchildren Lauren, Austin, Mitchell, Madelynn, Meredith, Luke, Adam and Seth. She loved playing games with them and gave them all their love of cooking. She loved traveling to see them on birthdays and special occasions. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Henry, Edgar and Norman, sisters Clara and Nora Jane and granddaughter Lauren. Those left behind are husband Henry at home; son Michael and wife Donna and their children, Austin, Mitchell and Meredith of Farwell, TX; son Paul and wife Jane and their children Madelynn, Luke, Adam and Seth of Edmond, OK. Memorials may be made to Ruby Ratke Legacy Fund % Trinity Lutheran Church, 430 South 13th Clinton, OK 73601.