New Ulm review., 1922-11-15
PIONEER RESIDENT
DIES SUDDENLY
Mrs. F. H. Retzlaf Passes
Away After Illness
OF One Week.

Mrs. Minnie Retzlaff, wife of F. H
Retzlaff, died at 12:40 a. m. yesterday
at the Union Hospital after an illness
of week. The death of Mrs. Retz-
laff came as shock to New Ulm where
she has lived since 1887 and has taken
an active part in the life of the COM
munity.
Although Mrs. Retzlaff had been
suffering from pain since last August
she never complained and continued
with her many activities. A week
ago last Tuesday evening, however,
her condition suddenly became serious
and she was taken to the Union
hospital Wednesday morning. She
was operated on that day and rallied
remarkably we'll from the operation.
Her condition continued to improve
until Sunday night when it took a
turn for the worse. Death followed
early Tuesday morning.
Worked For Others.
Mrs. Retzlaf was life long member
of the Lutheran church and was un-
tiring in her work in the Lutheran
Aid society, the Union Hospital Aid
society, for charity and missions. She
worked continually for the interests
of others and never gave any consider
alton to herself.
One of her last acts of charity was to
sc cure bell for an Indian mission at
White River, Arizona. The mission
needed a bell and Mrs. Retzlaff as
sumed the responsibility Of supplying
it. Some donations were received but
Mrs. Retzlaff gave the contribution
which made the bell possible. In her
hospital work she could not do enough
to ease the burdens of the sick. She
gave freely of her time and money for
the relief CT the poor and suffer ng.
Escaped The Indians.
Mrs. Retzlaff was born on August 5,
1861 and wss therefore 81 years old.
Size was the daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Ernest Frit6che and spent her girl
hood days on the farm of her parents
in Cottonwood township. She was a
baby of a year when the Indian mas
sacre broke out and accompanied her
parents in their fight from the farm
to the Block House in New Ulm. Her
father was shocking grain when a
neighbor rode up to tell him that the
Indians had gone on the war-path.
Hitching up yoke of oxen and placing
his wife and baby girl in the wagon
with few articles of household furni-
ture he drove to New Ulm andreached
the city just before it was surrounded
by the Red Skins.
Mr.. and Mrs. Retzlaff were married
On October 2S, 1884 in New Ulm.
They moved to Little Falls where they
lived for three years, returning here in
1887 where Mr.. Retzlaf went into the
implement business. Eleven years
ago they built their fine home on
North Washington street.
Four Children Survive.
Three children born to Mr.. and
Mrs. Retzlaff died before their mother.
They were Alma, Selma and Victor.
All of them died in childhood. In
addition to her husband Mrs. Retzlaff
S survived by four children and five
brothers. The children are: Mrs.
c. Albrecht, Sleepy Eye;
Armin F. Retzlaff, who has charge of
he automobile department of his
ather's business; Waldemar A. Retz-
aft, who conducts the implement de-
'artment, and Mrs. Axel Brett, whose
husband is professor at the Universe.
y Of Illinois, Urbana. Mrs. Retz-
af's brothers are: Emil and John
'ritsche of New Ulm; Louis Fritsche,
Herman Fritsche, living
n the Fritsche homestead in Cotton
7ood township and Robert Fritsche
f Aberdeen, S. D. Mrs. Retzlaff was
cousin of DR.. L. A. Fritsche, mayor
f New Ulm.
Mr.. Retzlaff and the children were
t the bedside of Mrs. Retzlaff when
he died with the exception of Mrs.
'rett, who is now on her way from
Jrbana.
Funeral Services Friday.
Funeral services will be held at 2
i. m. Friday from the home and at
80 p. m. from St. Paurs Lutheran
hurch. The Rev. C. J. Albrecht will
onduct the services. Interment will
e in the Lutheran cemetery.
THE DECLARATION
The men who wrote the solemn Declara