Hazel Schiltz
Memorial services for Hazel Schiltz were held at 10:00 AM Monday, December 10, 2007. Pastor Johnette
Grefe officiated at the service at the Medicine Lake Lutheran Church; interment of cremated remains
was in the Medicine Lake Cemetery. Unrbearers were Christian Day and Ryan Wellander; Ushers were
Mike and Debbie Hendrickson. The staff and residents of the Montana Pioneer Manor and of the La
Casa Personal Care Home were recognized as Honorary Bearers, as were all of Hazel’s other friends
and family. Hazel, 93, died Wednesday evening, December 5, at LaCasa Personal Care Home in
Plentywood.
Hazel was born July 10, 1914 on the rolling plains of western North Dakota, one mile from the Montana
border, near Grenora, the daughter of Elling and Dorthea (Watten) Sonstegaard. She grew up on the
homestead, riding horseback, herding cattle and milk cows, and even riding some of the steers – the
harder they bucked, the better she liked it! After the 8th grade, Hazel stayed home a year before starting
high school in Grenora. She enjoyed her carefree high school years, graduating in 1933. Hazel married
Alfred Petersen in Plentywood on September 19, 1934. Their son Vance was born before they moved to
Wheeler, Montana for work during the Fort Peck Dam boom, managing the Tasa hotel with her sister’s
family. After the work at Fort Peck was over, the family, now including daughter Gayle, moved to Medicine
Lake. They farmed for a while for Grover Fulkerson northeast of town; then moved in to Medicine Lake.
Memorial services for Hazel Schiltz were held at 10:00 AM Monday, December 10, 2007. Pastor Johnette
Grefe officiated at the service at the Medicine Lake Lutheran Church; interment of cremated remains
was in the Medicine Lake Cemetery. Unrbearers were Christian Day and Ryan Wellander; Ushers were
Mike and Debbie Hendrickson. The staff and residents of the Montana Pioneer Manor and of the La
Casa Personal Care Home were recognized as Honorary Bearers, as were all of Hazel’s other friends
and family. Hazel, 93, died Wednesday evening, December 5, at LaCasa Personal Care Home in
Plentywood.
Hazel was born July 10, 1914 on the rolling plains of western North Dakota, one mile from the Montana
border, near Grenora, the daughter of Elling and Dorthea (Watten) Sonstegaard. She grew up on the
homestead, riding horseback, herding cattle and milk cows, and even riding some of the steers – the
harder they bucked, the better she liked it! After the 8th grade, Hazel stayed home a year before starting
high school in Grenora. She enjoyed her carefree high school years, graduating in 1933. Hazel married
Alfred Petersen in Plentywood on September 19, 1934. Their son Vance was born before they moved to
Wheeler, Montana for work during the Fort Peck Dam boom, managing the Tasa hotel with her sister’s
family. After the work at Fort Peck was over, the family, now including daughter Gayle, moved to Medicine
Lake. They farmed for a while for Grover Fulkerson northeast of town; then moved in to Medicine Lake.
| . . . . in Memory of . . . . |
Remembering Hazel
Hazel had completed Reflexology training in 1957. She continued to farm for five more years after Alfred’s death November 5, 1964, and
completed beauty school in Billings in 1968. In 1970 she bought a home in Laurel. Hazel married Jack Schiltz May 21, 1982, in Idaho; they
moved to Canyon Ferry Lake, near Helena, Montana, where they spent the summer months and spent winters in Arizona. After Jack’s death
February 14, 1984, Hazel moved to Bigfork in 1986, and continued to winter at Venture Out in Mesa until she moved to Williston, North Dakota
May 1, 2001. Hazel started painting while she lived in Billings; and completed many pieces of artwork, including work in scratchboard and other
mediums. Her artwork and her family were the center of her life. With declining health, she moved to Plentywood’s Montana Pioneer Manor in
April, 2003; and to LaCasa in March, 2004.
Hazel is survived by her two children and their families: Vance Petersen and his wife Melinda live in Hemet, California; and Gayle Grothaus
and her husband Bill live in Medicine Lake. She is also survived by one brother, Edwin Sonstegaard, of Apache Junction, Arizona. Her
grandchildren are Julie Converse, Shelle, Kulik, Dr. Cyrene Grothaus-Day, Jacqlyn Wellander and her husband Don; and was preceded in
death by a grandson, Kim Grothaus. Her great grandchildren Jadie and Abbie Converse, Kelsea and Kanin Kulik, Kristin and Ashley Grothaus,
Christian and Ciara Day, Ryan Wellander. Hazel’s family also includes John Schiltz and his wife Christy, of San Diego, California and Don
Schiltz and his wife Sharon, of Bigfork, Montana; and 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Besides her parents, she was preceded in
death by her two husbands, a grandson, Kim, and by nine brothers and sisters: Ella Holt, Agnes Legge, Thelma Trulson, Herb Sonstegaard,
Myrtle Rasmussen, and Norman, Allert, Clarence, and Sidney Sonstegaard.
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood had charge of arrangements.
completed beauty school in Billings in 1968. In 1970 she bought a home in Laurel. Hazel married Jack Schiltz May 21, 1982, in Idaho; they
moved to Canyon Ferry Lake, near Helena, Montana, where they spent the summer months and spent winters in Arizona. After Jack’s death
February 14, 1984, Hazel moved to Bigfork in 1986, and continued to winter at Venture Out in Mesa until she moved to Williston, North Dakota
May 1, 2001. Hazel started painting while she lived in Billings; and completed many pieces of artwork, including work in scratchboard and other
mediums. Her artwork and her family were the center of her life. With declining health, she moved to Plentywood’s Montana Pioneer Manor in
April, 2003; and to LaCasa in March, 2004.
Hazel is survived by her two children and their families: Vance Petersen and his wife Melinda live in Hemet, California; and Gayle Grothaus
and her husband Bill live in Medicine Lake. She is also survived by one brother, Edwin Sonstegaard, of Apache Junction, Arizona. Her
grandchildren are Julie Converse, Shelle, Kulik, Dr. Cyrene Grothaus-Day, Jacqlyn Wellander and her husband Don; and was preceded in
death by a grandson, Kim Grothaus. Her great grandchildren Jadie and Abbie Converse, Kelsea and Kanin Kulik, Kristin and Ashley Grothaus,
Christian and Ciara Day, Ryan Wellander. Hazel’s family also includes John Schiltz and his wife Christy, of San Diego, California and Don
Schiltz and his wife Sharon, of Bigfork, Montana; and 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Besides her parents, she was preceded in
death by her two husbands, a grandson, Kim, and by nine brothers and sisters: Ella Holt, Agnes Legge, Thelma Trulson, Herb Sonstegaard,
Myrtle Rasmussen, and Norman, Allert, Clarence, and Sidney Sonstegaard.
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood had charge of arrangements.
| 1914 - 2007 |
