Erlene Grace (Paul) Ragatz, 89, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Saturday, July 4, 2026, at Aberdeen Health & Rehab. Services will be held on July 14, 2026. Her funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield, SD, with Reverend Alton Vilhauer officiating. Inurnment will follow the service at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Frankfort, SD. After the committal service, lunch and fellowship will take place at Fisher Grove Country Club in rural Frankfort.

The funeral service will be live-streamed through a link on the funeral home’s website, below Erlene’s obituary in the funeral service panel. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home (www.hykefuneralhome.com).

Erlene was born on January 15, 1937, in Doland, SD, to Earl and Grace (Roberts) Paul. She grew up on a farm southeast of Doland, where she enjoyed and loved her horses and any other pets that were around. She attended and graduated from Doland High School in 1956.

On November 22, 1956, she married Dennis Ragatz, and four children were born to this union. Erlene spent most of her life being a farm wife and raising her family on a farm northeast of Frankfort. She enjoyed embroidery, gardening, baking, and going for walks.

In 2001, Erlene and Dennis moved to Aberdeen to spend their retirement years. In 2017, Erlene moved into Aberdeen Health & Rehab after a fall and remained there until her time of death.

Erlene is survived by her two daughters, Donna (Dane) Lambert of Frankfort, SD, and Denene (Donnie) Miles of Aberdeen, SD; and son-in-law, David Jessen of Redfield, SD. She is also survived by her 9 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 3 step great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 58 years, Dennis; son, Paul Ragatz; daughter, Mary Jessen; 3 brothers, Everett, Marvin, & Merlin Paul; 2 brothers-in-law; and 2 sisters-in-law.