Carol Jean (Duerkop) Ragatz, 86, of Frankfort, SD, passed away Monday, October 28, 2024, at the Eastern Star Home in Redfield, SD.
Her services will be held on Monday, November 4, 2024. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Eastern Star Chapel in Redfield. Visitation will then continue from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Redfield Methodist Church in Redfield. Carol’s funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Melissa Rowenhorst officiating. Coffee and cake will be served in the church hall after the service. After refreshments and fellowship, burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Frankfort.
Carol’s funeral service will be live-streamed on the funeral home’s website below her obituary. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield (www.hykefuneralhome.com).
On January 22, 1938, Carol Jean Duerkop was born in Spink County, SD, to LaVerne and Ann (Hansen) Duerkop. Carol graduated from Doland High School in 1956.
Carol met Wayne Ragatz when they both were taking accordion lessons in Doland. They married on September 16, 1956, and were blessed with three children: Robert, Brenda, and Jim. Carol and Wayne lived on a farm near Frankfort their entire married lives. They celebrated over 60 years of marriage before Wayne passed away in April of 2017.
Every summer, Carol spent countless hours caring for their large vegetable garden and then canning and freezing vegetables for the winter. She took great pride in her flower beds and in keeping the grass mowed from one corner to the other in their farmyard.
Wayne and Carol were passionate about square dancing and they traveled all over the state to participate in dances and festivals.
Carol was a Spink County 4-H leader for many years with the Timber Wolves 4-H Club. She also loved 4-H Achievement Days in Redfield and volunteered her time every year to check in rabbits and chickens. Many residents and staff at the Eastern Star Home often referred to her as “the bunny lady.”
Family was Carol’s greatest love. She was never happier than when the family was all together and sharing good times and good food. Carol was an excellent cook and baker, with their home seldom, if ever, lacking homemade cookies, brownies, pies, or cakes. She loved watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at their sporting events. She also enjoyed attending NSU basketball games and especially loved listening to the pep band and just watching and observing people in the crowd. She nearly always had to have a serving of Culver’s frozen custard that was served at the games.
Carol and Wayne had endless patience and love for each other, and in their later years, loved to just drive around and look at crops. Going anywhere was okay, as long as they were together.
Grateful for sharing her life are her children: Robert (Lois) Ragatz of Frankfort, Brenda (Zane) Mason of Frankfort, and Jim (Rose) Ragatz of Aberdeen, SD; and grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren: Ryan (Jackie) Ragatz and their children: Cooper, Emmie, and Braylee; Jennifer (Mike) Merron and their children: Teagan, Jackson, Nora, and Raya; Eric (Shayna) Ragatz and their daughter Charlotte; David (Erin) Mason and their children: Madison, Mackenzie, Mercedes (Ashten Crook), Montana, Jaxon, and Taryn; and Adam (Jennifer) Mason and their children: Nolan and Cole. Carol’s “adopted” grandchildren – Northern State University International Students (especially Thomas and Waleed), whose host family is Jim and Rose – will also miss her. Carol is also survived by her sisters Micki Heer of Gillette, WY and Alice (Tom) Whitley of Redfield.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Virginia (Skeets) Hansen, brothers Robert “Bobby” Duerkop and LaVerne “Pete” Duerkop, great-grandson Maverick, and great-great-grandson Ty.