Hazel Maxine Compton, 85, Sturgis, died Saturday, September 6, 2008, at Sturgis Regional Senior Care.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Denzel Nonhof officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.

Hazel was born August 28, 1923, in Sturgis, SD, to George and Phidelia (Sylvester) Compton. She grew up on her parent's ranch in eastern Meade County, near Marcus, attended Tepee Creek School for grades 1 10 and graduated from Stoneville High School. In 1942, she enrolled at Black Hills State College, and after many summer sessions and extension classes, she obtained a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education in 1959. Hazel taught five years in rural Meade County schools, one year in Howard, SD, then came to Sturgis to teach. Here she taught fourth grade for 35 years, retiring in 1985. In 1973, Hazel was chosen as an Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America. In 1977, she was selected at Teacher of the Year by Meade District 46-1.

Her nephews and nieces were an important part of her life. She was always eager to hear of their activities and welcomed opportunities to be involved in their lives.

Hazel was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she was an elder and served as Clerk of Session. She taught Sunday school for many years and served as the Sunday School Superintendent. Hazel was an active member of the United Presbyterian Women. She also served on the Council and the Administrative Review Committee for the Presbytery of South Dakota.

Hazel was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the SD Women Teacher's Organization, and the Sturgis Woman's Literary Club, which she served as president of each of them. She served as president of the Meade County Education Association and of the Sturgis Education Association. She was a member of the first negotiation committee for the Meade Education Association. She was a member of the Sturgis Senior Citizen's, the Sturgis Hospital Auxiliary, and the Butte County Historical Society.

She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Laura Compton, Spearfish, SD, and Bernice Compton, Sturgis. Also surviving are her nieces and nephews, Audrey and Roslyn Arvidson, Parkers Prairie, MN, Eleanor and Melvin Marousek, Belle Fourche, SD, Margaret "Peg" Brand, Loveland, CO, Myron and Nadine Compton, rural Spearfish, SD, Charles "Chuck" and Myra Compton, Bringhurst, IN, Edith "Edee" and Gary Rae, Harrisburg, SD, Evelyn and Wayne Sheely, Sturgis, SD, Dorothy "Dottie" Kerwin, Lander, WY, Kenneth "Ken" Compton, Duluth, MN, and Robert and Jennifer Compton, Howes, SD. Additional survivors include numerous great-nephews and nieces and great-great-nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant sister, Loreene; three brothers, Merle, Reid, and Glen Compton; one sister-in-law, Margaret Baldwin Compton; two nieces, Ruth Schell and Colleen Compton; and three nephews, William "Bill" Schell, Anthony "Tony" Kerwin, and Melvin Brand.

Memorials have been established to the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis and the Marcus Presbyterian Church.