Hazel Gaston

Hazel Darline (Fry) Gaston, age 92, was born on Jan. 10, 1930, in Barada, Neb., to Cecil and Grace (Edwards) Fry. She died Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. Her family lived in small towns in southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas until moving to Hebron when she was 12, southeast of Gaston's Hill (SE of the Gaston farm). Summers were spent playing softball in the field between the Gaston and Fry farms. When Hazel got tired of her brother Bud and Don Gaston always being up to bat, she tripped Don as he rounded second. The Gaston boys, her sister Betty and Hazel would load up in Bud's Model A and go to dances around the area and to the theatre. Hazel's first date with Don Gaston was to a picture show in Hebron after he had returned from WWII. He walked her home as she was living with a family in town while she was in school. Hazel said she knew they were meant to be.

Hazel graduated from Hebron High School in May 1948. She was united in marriage to Donald J. Gaston on June 3, 1948. To this 67-year union were born three sons and a daughter. The couple lived on the Gaston farm, Lincoln, Belvidere and many other places until retiring from the Hardy Co-op where Don was the general manager. Hazel was his trusty bookkeeper at every grain elevator they worked at.

During their time at the Hardy Co-op, they enjoyed many trips. While they traveled in the U.S., Mexico and Caribbean, she said Hawaii was her favorite. Don and Hazel continued to travel in retirement and spent 17 winters in Apache Junction, Ariz., enjoying golf and square dancing with friends and her sister, Vi, and husband. Hazel was thankful for the many years in Hardy and the good friends they established while living there.

A couple years after retirement in 1987 the couple moved back to Hebron. In January 2017 Hazel moved to Sioux Falls, S.D., and lived at Prince of Peace Retirement Community.

Hazel was a member of the Ladies Legion Auxiliary, Women's Church Group and First Community Church, Hebron. People knew when Hazel was around as all they had to do was listen for her laugh. Hazel had a loving spirit and was a social butterfly. She had a way of brightening someone's day just by her presence. She enjoyed sewing, traveling, camping, fishing, square dancing, spirited card games, and family gatherings. She especially enjoyed time with her entire family and could not get enough of her grandchildren.

Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Grace; husband, Donald; siblings: Wanda Caswell, Francis (aka Bud) (Letha) Fry, Betty (Kenneth) Krakow, Violette (Dwayne) Anderson, Gordon (Alice) Fry, Max Miller; and nephews: Glenn Miller and Robert Fry; niece, Carolyn Reeve; in-laws, Joseph and Bessie Gaston, Harold (Vivian) Gaston, Dale (Rose) Gaston, Lyle (Punjab) and Merlin Gaston.

Survivors include her children Michael (wife, Sharon) of Ames, Iowa, Pat of Lewellen, Kent (wife, June) of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Josie Harmacek (husband, Gary) of Sioux Falls, S.D .; grandchildren Todd (wife, Kim), Becki (husband, John) Wise, Melissa Jones, Erick (wife, Erin),  Katie Sheets, Christie (husband Mike) Roberts, Samuel (wife, Alyssa), Taylor and Trevin Harmacek; 20 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild; sister-in-law, Paula McGinnes of Hebron; many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Hazel's family is grateful for having shared in her life journey and takes great comfort and peace in knowing she is with Jesus in heaven and they will see her again.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, with the family present at the Price Funeral Home, 210 South 3rd Street, Hebron. Her funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the First Community Church in Hebron. Interment at Rose Hill Cemetery near Hebron.

Memorials will go to First Community Church in Hebron. Price Funeral Home of Hebron is assisting the family with arrangements. http://www.priceurbauer ahrendts.com.