HURON — Earlene Retzlaff, age 74, of Huron, passed away Monday, November 25, 2024, at Huron Regional Medical Center.
Her funeral service is 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 30, at First Baptist Church. Visitation is an hour prior to services, with burial in the Sunset Memorial Cemetery, Aberdeen at 2:30 p.m.
There is also visitation, from 2 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29 at Kuhler Funeral Home, with family present from 5 to 7 p.m., with a time of sharing at 6:30 p.m. Friday evening.
Earlene Jo Retzlaff was born to Earl and Vera (Payton) Barton on July 7, 1950, in Aberdeen. She was the youngest of seven children and raised on the family farm northeast of Ellendale, N.D. After graduating from Ellendale High School, she attended the State School of Science in Wahpeton, N.D.
Earlene dated Ray Retzlaff, with whom she attended school, but got to know more after graduating from high school. The couple later eloped and married in Houghton, Mich., on October 29, 1969. The couple lived in Aberdeen until moving to Huron in March 1970.
Earlene was a stay-at-home mother to their two children, James and Jennifer. After the kids went to school, Earlene started working with the Huron Public School system, where she worked at Jefferson Elementary School, then the middle and high school as a teacher’s aide. She also worked as a personal care attendant for various patients in Huron.
Earlene thoroughly enjoyed time with family and was blessed to have celebrated she and Ray’s 55th wedding anniversary with the whole family just recently. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her great joy and she loved attending their activities and cheering them on.
Earlene also enjoyed traveling with Ray, crafts, genealogy, watching the Minnesota Twins, NASCAR driver Joey Logano, and playing cards. She was an active member of First Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband, Ray of Huron; son, James and wife, Kathy Retzlaff of Tea; daughter, Jennifer and husband, Justin Asmus of Springfield, Minn.; grandchildren, Mark Retzlaff, Kristine (Jake) Larsen, Xandar Asmus (fiancé Belle Bugay) and Carter Asmus; great-grandchildren, Landon, Alaina and Alydia Larsen; and a sister, Darlene Atkinson.
Earlene is preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Laura Louise (Wayne) Lematta, Ken (Delores) Barton, Bob (Donna) Barton, Ray (Margaret) Barton and Lawrence (Margaret) Barton; and brother-in-law, Joe Atkinson.
www.kuhlerfuneralhome.com
