LaVonne "Vonnie" Ratcliff

LaVonne A. “Vonnie” Ratcliff, age 90 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at Edgewood Care Centre in Sartell, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 26 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Mark Botzet officiating. A private interment will be held at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

LaVonne Ann Essler was born March 20, 1935 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Bernard and Catherine (Mayer) Essler. On May 25, 1963 she married Jack Ratcliff at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Vonnie worked as a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell in Sauk Centre and in Minneapolis until her retirement.

Survivors include her sister, Cheryl Hanson of Blaine; and two nephews.

Vonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Ratcliff on May 16, 2009; parents; and sister, Dorothy Tathwell.