Hazel Wenona O'Connell was born August 21, 1893, at Jamestown, North Dakota, to John and Sabra Wedeman. 

They moved to Yankton, South Dakota, where she attended school until they moved to Stanley County in 1906.  She taught rural schools for several years before her marriage to Ray O'Connell at Philip, South Dakota, in 1915.

To this union one son, Dale Elwood, was born.  They couple lived on her homestead several years and farmed in the Hartley community until they moved to Philip in 1960.

Hazel loved music and often sang at community gatherings and played with the Elza Anderson orchestra in pioneer days.  She was active in school and club activities before retiring.  She was baptized in the Methodist faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1968, a sister, Velva Bell, and a grandson, John Charles.

Survivors include her son, Dale Elwood, of Philip; one sister, Cecil Britton of Gordon, Nebraska; one brother, Howard Wedeman of Salmon, Idaho; eight grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Hazel loved family and friends and enjoyed writing.  She closed one of her pioneer stories with this thought:  "To those who live in cosmopolitan areas our lives and efforts seem wasted, but to us who live here, there has been joy and sorrow, sunshine and happiness and 'a heap a livin'."

Services
Thursday, October 17, 1985
2:00 p.m.
Presbyterian Church
Philip, South Dakota

Officiating
Reverend Russell Peirce

Music
JoAnne Stilwell - Organist
JoAnne Stilwell and
Joe Gittings - Vocalists

Ushers
Harold "Bud" Stickler - Keith Harry

Active Pallbearers
Dale B. O'Connell - Delane O'Connell
Glenn O'Connell - Roger O'Connell
Kent O'Connell - Richard Peraz

Honorary Pallbearers
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

Interment
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota