Hazel Nelson

Hazel Nelson, age 97, of Yankton, South Dakota, died on Thursday, June 20, 2019 at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Keith Babb and Myron Nelson; and two sisters, Gladys Nelson Pickering and Beulah Mayer. Hazel was born April 25, 1922 near Volin, South Dakota to Oscar and Bertha (Sylliaasen) Kjeldseth. She grew up on a farm near Irene, South Dakota and graduated from Wakonda High School in Wakonda, South Dakota. On January 28, 1943, Hazel married Keith Babb and they farmed near Wakonda. Keith passed away on August 19, 1946. Hazel then moved to Yankton and worked at Gurney’s Seed and Nursery. On October 9, 1954, she married Myron Nelson in Yankton and they farmed near Tabor, South Dakota for over 35 years. Hazel loved being a homemaker and was a wonderful cook and baker; she was well known for her rhubarb dessert, lemon bars, carrot muffins, chocolate chip cookies and especially her “sweet pancakes” that she made for her girls and grandkids. She maintained a huge garden, loved hanging laundry outdoors on the clothesline and tending to her chickens on the farm. Myron passed away on August 2, 1989 and Hazel moved to Yankton where she lived independently until she was almost 95 years old. She moved to Autumn Winds Assisted Living in 2017 and then spent the last 13 months at Avera Sister James Care Center. She loved flowers and watching birds, especially cardinals. She enjoyed traveling and going shopping with her daughters. Hazel also enjoyed playing cards, bingo and dancing with her beloved, Myron. Hazel enjoyed watching Lawrence Welk every Saturday night and loved watching basketball and was an avid fan of watching her favorite Minnesota Timberwolves. Hazel’s life was centered around her devotion to Jesus. She lived a faith filled life with a giving and loving heart. She visited those in the nursing home and always found a way to brighten someone’s day. Hazel was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church and always kept her life focused on Jesus. Hazel was deeply loved by her four daughters: Gloria (Butch) Becker of Yankton, SD, Linda (Karl) Pearcy of Leona Valley, CA, Marilyn (Tom) Kilgore of Manhattan, KS and Lori (Tom) Dickman of Carmel, IN; 10 grandchildren: Scott (Nora) Kohoutek, Stacey (Owen) Wassink, Jill (Rusty) Ward, Brian (Suelyn) Pearcy, Jennifer Barth, Brandy (Nathan) Alt, Matthew (Jennifer) Kilgore, Daniel Dickman, Alex Dickman and Charlie Dickman; 15 great grandchildren; cousins: Dory Ahern, Gary Sylliaasen, Gerald Bruget, Phyllis Erickson, Joan Snow and Twila Lyman; and several nephews, great grand-nieces and great grand-nephews. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Yankton, SD with Reverend Kwen Sanderson officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Yankton. Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, on Wednesday, June 26 at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Visitation resumes one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Pallbearers are her grandsons: Scott Kohoutek, Brian Pearcy, Matthew Kilgore, Daniel Dickman, Alex Dickman and Charlie Dickman. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Hazel’s honor to the Mead Cultural Education Center at 82 Mickelson Drive in Yankton, SD 57078.