Hazel Mueller, age 94, a longtime resident of Rapid City and lifelong South Dakotan, passed away March 3, 2022. She was born in 1927 to Roy and Ann Beckett on the family homestead in Sully County, the first of six children. Although she grew up during the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl with swarming grasshoppers followed by World War II, Hazel remembered a happy childhood. The Beckett farm was a gathering place for friends and family and on hot summer Sundays they often churned home-made ice cream.

After graduating from Harold High School, Hazel obtained a teaching certificate. She taught in remote central South Dakota one-room country schools. During bad weather, she was flown to school via a ski plane on Sunday and back home on Friday. At one point a terrific snowstorm stranded her and her students; for the week until rescuers reached them, young Hazel had sole responsibility for keeping warm, housing and feeding herself and all her students. While she was certainly frightened, everyone survived without incident.

Dressed up for Harold School's Christmas program, Hazel stopped at the service station. As she was leaving a snowball smacked into her car. She turned to see a smiling stranger across the street and exclaimed, "Just wait until I've changed out of my good clothes!" That was the beginning of her lifelong, loving partnership with Paul, who had recently arrived to farm nearby land his father owned. They married just under a year later. Hazel claimed that Paul married her for her cooking (which really was wonderful and much acclaimed), but Paul insisted that he married her for love!

With two young daughters and a very pregnant wife, Paul joined the South Dakota Highway Patrol and completed training while Hazel delivered their first son. They moved to Aberdeen, where their final son was born. After nine years they transferred to Hot Springs, SD, and a year later to Rapid City. Their children remember camping and water skiing at the lake, family reunions, long summer vacations traveling with the camper and ALWAYS being home for dinner together at six. Favorite meals were homemade ice cream and tacos.

Hazel worked for many years at JC Penney in Rapid City. Her final day on the job, Paul met her at the door and they immediately hit the road. The next several years were spent visiting all 50 states and places beyond. Notably they were in Manhattan during the 9/11 bombings. They eventually settled into being snowbirds by purchasing a mobile home in Mesa, Arizona, where they alternated winters with summers in their Rapid City home. Hazel continued that for several years following Paul's death until health issues forced her to remain full time in Rapid City.

Along with a much loved and close-knit extended family, Paul and Hazel made and kept many treasured friends from their neighborhood, work and church. They joined Calvary Lutheran Church in 1968 shortly after moving to Rapid City and were members there until death.

Among Hazel's interests were dancing and music, especially Elvis Presley. A special memory was dancing with Lawrence Welk. Affectionately called "Nana," she loved spending time and cooking with her grandchildren and, in turn, her great-grandchildren. She made delicious baked goods, enjoyed canning fruits and vegetables from their garden and was renowned for her fried chicken and country gravy, rhubarb and lemon meringue pies.

Hazel was preceded in death by her husband, Paul F. Mueller; parents Roy and Ann Beckett; and brothers Delmar and Douglas Beckett.

She is survived by her children Sherri Struble, Sandra Mueller (Mary Jane Luther), Stan (Jackie) Mueller, Steve Mueller; grandchildren Andrea (Ben) Drake, Paul (Jamie) Struble, Paiton Mueller; seven great-grandchildren; siblings Charlotte Meyer, Viola (Gordon) Magness, Ronald (Junior DeJesus) Beckett; and numerous extended family members.

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 11, 2022 at Calvary Lutheran Church with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m.

Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Memorials in Hazel's name may be given to the charity of your choice.