Alan G. Ratliff

Alan Gene Ratliff, 79, of Lennox, South Dakota passed from this life on October 13, 2025. Alan was born on August 16, 1946, to Dean and Helen (Batien) Ratliff in Huron, South Dakota. He spent his early childhood on a farm near Carpenter before the family moved to Watertown in 1952, where he grew up. As a boy, Alan loved baseball, playing the drums, and his paper route. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1964 and went on to earn a degree in Mathematics with a minor in Physical Education from Northern State University. He later completed master’s degrees in Guidance and Counseling and Secondary School Administration from the University of South Dakota. During his first years of teaching, two major events happened in Alan’s life. First and foremost, Alan understood for the first time what it meant to believe in the Lord Jesus and he placed his trust in Jesus to save him from his sins and made Him his Savior. This decision became even more important to him when he learned he was to be drafted into the army. He arrived in Vietnam the day before Thanksgiving in 1970. He served there for 13 months in the USARV Open Mess System where he worked in the supply yard. Upon his discharge, he returned home to Watertown where he met the love of his life, Brenda VanWesten. Alan and Brenda were married on November 17, 1973. They were blessed with four children: Timothy, Rebecca, Wendy, and Heidi. After a brief period of training to be missionaries with New Tribes Mission, Alan and Brenda made their home in Lennox, SD. At the high school, Alan taught math of all levels, computer science, coached shot put and discus, driver’s ed, and led counseling groups. He eventually moved into the Athletic Director position for nine years and was Assistant Principal for thirteen years. Though he took early retirement in 2003, his love for teaching continued through long-term substitute and contract positions, including at McCrossan’s Boys Ranch and in Watertown, until he fully retired in 2019. Alan deeply loved the Lord and his family, which was evident in the ways he was involved in his kids’ and grandkids’ activities, his faithfulness to pray for them daily, and the years of service in his church. He loved camping, boating, and roadtrips with his wife to see the grandkids. He found joy in being generous and in talking with anyone he came into contact with. His students loved having him for a teacher because of his perfect mix of humor and seriousness. In retirement, Alan discovered a passion for woodworking, crafting beautiful gifts for family and friends. Even as health challenges arose in his later years, he remained steadfast in reading Scripture and praying for others. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 51 years, Brenda; his children: Tim (Tonya) Ratliff, Crescent, IA; Becky (Nathan) Hunter, Elk River, MN; Wendy (Chad) Hellenga, Sioux Falls, SD; and Heidi (Will) DeWitt, Freeport, FL; his twelve grandchildren: Elijah, Aliyah and Isaiah Ratliff; Daniel and Samuel Hunter; Dalton Hellenga; Morgan, Carter, Camden, Adalyn, Emmett, and Elliot DeWitt; his mother-in-law Delsie VanWesten; brother Lyle Ratliff and sister Lila (Greg) Williamson, brothers-in-law Dale (Shelli) VanWesten and Don Cooper, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Helen Ratliff, brother Robert Ratliff, and father-in-law Hilbert VanWesten. Memorial donations may be directed to the family and will go toward mission work Alan supported during his life.

Alan G. Ratliff

August 16, 1946 - October 13, 2025

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