Juanita May “Nita” Ratzlaff, 73, died Sept. 27, 2016, at her home in Great Bend. Born May 1, 1943, at Beldenville, Wis., she was the daughter of John and Mildred (Klein) Gilbertson. She was a waitress and manager of Hong Kong Restaurant and also had a painting business. She raised and showed Persian cats, and enjoyed cooking, gardening and yardwork.
Survivors include former husbands, Bob Cruse and John Ratzlaff; two sons, Bill Ratzlaff of Tawas, Mich., and Tim Cruse and wife Tammy of Wichita; five daughters, Sheila Crank and husband Adam of Hutchinson, Tammy Fry and husband Brian of Great Bend, Shelly Rhodes and husband Dustin of Kansas City, Brenda Grabast and husband Ken of Hudson, and Kara Grover and husband James of Larned; one sister, April Sarnstrom; two brothers, Bruce Gilbertson and Mike Gilbertson, both of Wisconsin; 18 grandchildren, Travis, Tobias, Tierra, Heather, Kyle, Renee, Cody, Ciara, Kristan, Savana, David, Aubri, Rocky, Britani, Derek, Croix, Nicholas and Joeb; and five great-grandchildren, Axel, Brayden, Bryson, Kayden and Estin. She was preceded in death by her parents.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Nov. 25, at First Church of the Nazarene in Great Bend. Inurnment will be at a later date in Wisconsin. Memorials are requested to Golden Belt Humane Society, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home*
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS. 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Oct. 2, 2016