Leanna Ratzlaff Peters was born on March 13, 1931 near Henderson, NE to Henry J. and Anna Janzen Ratzlaff. She attended country school a mile from home and graduated valedictorian from Henderson High School in 1949. She earned her teaching certificate from Kearney State Teachers College and taught at Farmers Valley Country School. She was baptized and joined Bethesda Mennonite Church on June 5, 1949. She spent many years teaching Sunday School, Bible School, and Mid-Week and was a member of all three mission circles.
On August 6, 1950 she was united in marriage to Levi P Peters. They were married for 72 years. Together they had four children, 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Leanna loved her family very much and prayed for each of them by name every day.
Leanna volunteered at the Et-Cetera Gift & Thrift Shop in Seward for many years and, together with Levi, enjoyed doing volunteer service throughout the U.S. and Mexico.
She was survived by her husband, Levi, and her children: Gordon (Lisa) Peters of Aurora, NE; Burdon (Carolyn) Peters of Henderson, NE; Jerry (Kari) Peters of Valley, NE; and Laurel (Brian) Klenda of Kimballton, IA. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Andrea (Eric) Hunnicutt, Jaylen Peters, Jeff (Tami) Peters, Greg Peters, Lance (Kirsten) Peters, Ellery (Shane) Johnson, Morgan (Sarah) Peters, Aleah (Dillon) Reaves, Tyler Linden, Alec Linden, Erianne (Daniel) McBride, Olivia Klenda, Levi Klenda, Eden Klenda and Elias Klenda. In addition, she is survived by her brotherin-law LG Davolt.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry J. and Anna Janzen Ratzlaff, in-laws Leonard and Sarah (Siebert) Peters, sisters Malita (Harry) Friesen, Elva (Sam) Quiring, Zella (Arley) Huebert, Alvina DaVolt (Walt Friesen), Violet Ratzlaff, Elfrieda Ratzlaff, brothers Leon (Jeanne) Ratzlaff, and Marvin (Edna) Ratzlaff.
A memorial service will be held at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson, NE on October 27 at 2:30 p.m. The memorial service will be preceded by a public grave-side service at Bethesda Cemetery, Henderson, NE at 1:45 p.m. Rev. Chelsea Vaught and Rev. Seth Miller will officiate. Visitation will be held at Metz Mortuary, Henderson, NE on October 26 from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. The family will be at the mortuary to greet guests from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. The service can be viewed by going to https://Bethesdamc.org/watch-live. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Nebraska Children’s Home Society or Henderson Health Care Legacy Square.
Leanna’s family would like to thank the staff from Legacy Square and Henderson Health Care for the excellent care they provided for Leanna the past seven years.