Obituary from The Messenger of Truth Issue 2, 1948:

Our dear mother and grandmother, Mary Nightingale (nee Ratzlaff) was born in Poland, Russia, August 28, 1868.
In 1874 she with her parents moved to Turkey, where they resided for about 5 years, where also her father died. A little later she with her widowed mother, brothers and sisters immigrated to America, settling near Halstead, Kansas. Mother was compelled to work away from home most of the pioneering years.
On October 3, 1885 she was united in marriage to Henry B. Nightingale. This union was blessed with 12 children, 2 sons and 10 daughters, of which 5 daughters preceded her in death. Father was taken from her side through death after mutually sharing joys and sorrows for over 40 years, leaving her a widow for over 21 years.
In the year 1894, mother became convicted of her lost condition, and upon the confession of her faith was added to the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, through water baptism, of which church she remained a faithful member to the end. Mother was always concerned for her soul, also the salvation of her children. Her aim was to be faithful to God, yet she often found that she made mistakes, which she also freely confessed and acknowledged. She partook of Communion a short time ago, which proved to be a special blessing to her. She also expressed some time ago a great longing to be at home with Jesus and her loved ones who had gone before her.
Mother enjoyed fairly good health until about 6 months ago, when she became very feeble. On Sunday morning, December 14, after suffering a stroke, she became seriously ill and suffered very intensely for the last 4 days. She passed away at the home of her children, Erwin Beckers, on Wed. 11:30 P.M., on Dec. 17, 1947, at the age of 79 years, 3 months, and 19 days. She leaves 2 sons, Abe, of Peabody, Kansas, Urpha, of Weiser, Idaho; 5 daughters, Lizzie Koehn of Greensburg, Kansas, Alverta Schmidt, of Newton, Kansas, Eva Becker, Minnie Unruh, and Adeline Becker all of near Galva, Kansas; 5 sons-in-law and 2 daughters-in-law, 57 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and 2 brothers, Jake of Winton, California, and Andrew of Los Angeles.

Farewell dear mother, sweet thy rest,
Weary with years and worn with pain
Farewell, till in some happy place
We shall behold thy face again.

'Tis ours to miss thee, all our years,
And tender memories of thee keep
Thine in the Lord to rest, for so,
He giveth His beloved sleep.
—The Children

Funeral services were held at the Lone Tree Church, Sunday afternoon, December 21. Opening remarks and prayer by Min. Frank Unruh. Min. Milferd Wenger chose for words of comfort from Numbers 23:10; Psa. 30:4; 2 Cor. 5:10; and Rev. 22:10-14. Min. John A. Becker gave the closing prayer. Min. Frank Unruh made grave side remarks.

-Contributor by JCarter