Thurman Douglas Ratcliff

Thurman Douglas Ratcliff, age 64 years, 11 months and 20 days, of Sebeka, MN, died January 9th, 2012 at CentraCare Hospital in St. Cloud, MN. Thurman was born at home in Leland, Mississippi on January 20th, 1947 to Imogene Ratcliff the daughter of a share cropper on a plantation. In his young life, he worked beside his family picking cotton, dragging around a hundred pound cotton sack which took him the entire day to fill. His family moved from Houston, TX to Cleveland TX to Forsyth MO and eventually settled in Park Rapids, MN. He then went to work in Minneapolis as a brazer for Flame Industries. In July of 1971, Thurman met the love of his life, Kathleen (Kathy) Mary Hensel and they married on May 8th, 1972, in Sisseton, SD. Thurman went to work for Peterson-Biddick of Wadena. He and Kathy lived on a turkey farm east of Menahga for the first 5 years of their marriage. They then began a farm of their own. They purchased property east of Sebeka, where they began milking cows. It was here they were blessed with 4 beautiful children. Thurman’s health began to fail in 1995 when he had open heart surgery. Over the years, Kathy did the farming and Thurman raised the children. Their love is forever something most will never know. Thurman loved his family. He loved to hunt and fish. Thurman is survived by his wife and soul mate of over 40 years, Kathy, his four children, Jennifer Ratcliff of Sebeka, Michael Ratcliff of Sebeka, Amy (Ryan) Ament of Wadena and Douglas Ratcliff of Sebeka; brothers and sisters Berrie (Julie) Burton of Park Rapids, Virginia (Keith) Terhark of Rosemount, Vickie (Don) Bice of Cottonwood, AZ, Joseph (Laurie) Burton of St. Joseph, Jessie (Michelle) Grubb of Hubbard, Jeanette (Mike) Karkinen of Menahga and Robert Grubb of Park Rapids; 5 grandchildren Dylan Ratcliff, Emmalee Huntington, Brooke Ratcliff, Scherie Ratcliff and Ethan Ament; many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother and grandparents. Interment was on January 11, 2012 at the Meadow Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Thurman's birthday, January 20th, 2012, at the Sebeka United Methodist Church in Sebeka with Pastor Steven Koehne officiating. Linda Roiko will serve as organist. Honorary Pallbearers are all Family and all who called him friend. Visitation will be an hour prior to the service.