Hazel Dorothy Hegstad

Hazel Dorothy Hegstad, 95, of Bemidji died Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at Havenwood Care Center in Bemidji.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 am Friday, December 30, 2011 at the First Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN with Rev. Lee Yarger officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the Greenwood Cemetery in Bemidji, MN under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.

Hazel Dorothy Danielson was born in Norman County, Minnesota February 3, 1916, the 5th (?) of eight children of Oscar and Bertha (Olson) Danielson. She grew up in Twin Valley and later graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN in 1938. She taught school in Blackduck, MN where she met and married Lorentz Hegstad in January, 1942. During the war years they lived in California until Lorentz was shipped overseas to Okinawa. After the war they lived in Bemidji, Roseau, and again in Bemidji where they raised their family and ran a grocery business, Hartz Super Market. Hazel was active in church, bridge club, PEO, helped with the family business and was available as a substitute teacher. Hazel returned to college to complete a master’s degree and then taught school at Red Lake High School for 15 years. While at Red Lake she taught English at the junior and senior high levels and also became the librarian at the high school. After retirement Hazel and Lorentz traveled extensively, tended their home and gardens and enjoyed the company of friends and family.

She is survived by two sisters, Harriet and Joyce; her children- Petra (Don) DeKrey of Bemidji, Lorentz, Jr. (Wilda) Hegstad, Margaret “Peggy” (Roger) Jones, and Daniel(Kathy Smith) Hegstad; nine grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.

Hazel was preceded in death by her husband, Lorentz; her parents, Oscar and Bertha Danielson; one brother, Ernest; four sisters, Esther, Marvel, Evelyn, and Ardis.

Memorials may be given to First Lutheran Church of Bemidji.