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Submitted: 1/6/12 • Approved: 1/6/12 • Last Updated: 8/13/15 • R144883-G144882-S3
John Jun 13, 1907 - Jun 10, 1993
Hazel Oct 14, 1899 - Dec 16, 2004
Married Feb. 14, 1934
Child: Beverly
Hazel Marie Orstad was born on October 14, 1899 to Thaulow and Mary (Hokenson) Orstad at Strand, lowa. She grew up on the family farm and attended rural school there. She did housework for her sisters and others and later moved to South Dakota. On February 14, 1934 she married John Harold Grayson at Canton, South Dakota. The couple farmed in the Worthing and Canton areas. A daughter, Beverly was born. The couple also helped raise several nephews and a niece. Besides being a devoted wife and mother, Hazel was noted for her pie baking talent. The couple later moved to a farm near Sioux Falls, South Dakota until the death of her husband Harold Grayson on June 10, 1993. His death ended a marriage of over 59 years. Hazel then moved to Cottonwood, Arizona, where she made her home with her daughter and son-in-law Duane and Beverly Thompson. Besides her parents and her husband, Harold, Hazel was preceded in death by four sisters: Hallene Anderson, Esther Anderson, Matilda Abbas and Bessie Nelson; five brothers: Porter, Harry, Francis, Gaylord and Melvin Orstad and her son-in-law Duane Thompson.
Grateful for having shared her life are her daughter, Beverly Thompson of Cave Creek, AZ; four grandchildren: Keith (Cyndi) Thompson, Lynn Pittenger, June (Tom) Ruetschi of Phoenix, AZ and Gail (John) Abbatiello of Monument, CO; ten great-grandchildren: Amy, Jeff, Jenny Thompson, Melanie and Michelle Pittenger, Joseph and Christian Abbatiello and Krystal Ericksen, Sherri Anderson and Brad Ruetschi; one great-grandchild, C.J. Erickson; a niece Judy Surdez her daughter Dione Surdez and Dione's daughter Patience of Costa Mesa, CA, the Lyle Frederickson family, who adopted Hazel when she came to Arizona and many other relatives and friends.
Photo & ressearch by Gene Hammerstrom
Used with permission
Contributed on 1/6/12 by revilo
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Record #: 144883