Cover photo for Marvin "Butch" Gerald Ratike's Obituary
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1928 Marvin "Butch" 2017

Marvin "Butch" Gerald Ratike

May 29, 1928 — September 29, 2017

Marvin “Butch” Ratike, 89, of Truman, Minn., died Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, at Truman Senior Living. He was born May 29, 1928, in Fraser Township, Martin County, to Harry and Edna (Rasche) Ratike. He was baptized at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fraser. He attended St. James Lutheran School, Northrop, and graduated eighth grade. He helped farm at home and moved out at age 16 to help his sister. He also worked for the Fairmont canning factory and other farmers.  Sixty-five years ago, on Feb. 9, 1952, he married Marlene Miller at Trinity Lutheran Church in Truman, Minn. He worked for Wilbert Pegor and rented the Jim Krusemark farm southwest of Truman. In 1955, he moved to the Mills Wheeler farm, west of Truman, where he resided until he retired in 1989. He then moved into Truman in 2000.  He enjoyed dancing, Polka music, playing cards, rodeos, ball games, traveling in the RV, and spending the winter months in Arizona. He delivered RVs for Winnebago industries, which took them to many states, including Alaska. He enjoyed visits from all of his children, grand/great-grandchildren, and friends. He is survived by his wife, Marlene; daughters, Marcy (Terry) Pettersen, Madelia, Diane (Greg) Boehmke, Omaha, Neb., Debra (Jerry) Anderson, Buffalo Center, Iowa, Valerie (Wayne) Gieseke, Barron, Wis.; a son, Alan (Tracy) Ratike, Monticello, Minn.; 14 grandchildren:  Corry (Amy) Pettersen, Barry (Rachel) Pettersen, Angela (Justin) Wrage, Jessica (Tony) Grant, Dustin Olson, Lucas (Yamell) Olson, Amber (Nathan) Redlich, Justin (Katie) Gieseke, Taylor Ratike, Carter Ratike, Alexis Ratike, Stephen Klosterman, Toni Klosterman, and Brittany Klosterman; 13 great grandchildren: Chandler Meyer, Vaida Pettersen, Averi Pettersen, Broderick Wrage, Kingston Wrage, Damon Olson, Dustin Olson, Ebony Olson, Watson Olson, Fisher Olson, Quinten Redlich, Wesley Redlich and Gage Ratike; a brother, Willard Ratike, sister-in-law Rosie Ratike and many nieces and nephews. Butch was preceded in death by his parents, his mother- and father-in-law, George and Grace Miller; sisters Ethel Petersen and Ardis Rasche, a brother, Harland Ratike; sisters-in-law Lillian Ratike and Lois Ziemer, brothers-in-law Elvin Rasche and Eldon Ziemer, and a nephew, Darrell Petersen. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Truman, Minn., or the charity of your choice. A memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Truman.  Visitation will be from noon until the time of service at the church. Inurnment will take place at Ridgelawn Memorial Park, rural Truman.Zaharia Family Funeral & Cremation Service is entrusted with arrangements. 
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