Hazel Runft

Hazel Marie Runft, daughter of Peter and Hilda (Sallman) Rasmussen, was born September 9, 1923 in San Acacio, Colorado and died Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Belleville Healthcare Center in Belleville, Kansas at the age of 92 years. As a child Hazel and her family lived on farms in the Republic and Scandia areas, south of Concordia and in San Acacio. She attended schools in these areas and graduated high school in San Acacio. Following high school Hazel moved with the family to Concordia where she worked for the wife of the Cloud County Sheriff, at Duckwalls, and at the Cloud County Co-Op. On February 24, 1945 Hazel married Donald William Runft in Washington, Kansas. Their first home was on a farm south of Rydal. Later they moved to a farm southwest of Scandia. After retirement they moved into the community of Scandia. Hazel and Don farmed and in 1956 began raising Charolais cattle. Each summer for over fifty years Hazel could be found at the NCK Fair watching her children or grandchildren show Charolais cattle, and in later years, pigs. Her booking skills for the ranch were highly respected by their accounting professionals. Hazel was a member and officer of the Town & Country Extension Unit, active with the Scandia United Methodist Women, a volunteer at Svensk Butik, served on the Republic County Extension Council, and was a clothing leader for the Sherdahl Boosters 4-H Club. Her favorite pastimes included sewing and reading as much as she could. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 65 years, Donald in 2010; daughter-in-law Judith Ann Runft; son-in-law Ellis Gowing; sister Maxine Marcotte; brothers-in-law Virgil Larsen, Alfred Marcotte, Harold Runft, and brother and sister-in-law Anthony and Alice Seaman. She will be forever remembered by her children Myron Runft and wife Cheryl, Belleville, Donna Martinson and husband Gail, Junction City, Sharon Gowing, San Angelo, TX, and Bruce Runft and wife Stacey, Scandia; 13 grandchildren, Amy Koehn, Robyn Liu, Jill Martinson, Clint Martinson, Chad Gowing, Britt Wright, Cody Runft, Jaid Runft, Payton Runft, Mason Runft, Tony Strnad, Joe Strnad, and Madge Strnad; 18 great grandchildren; sister Ruby Larsen, Concordia; other relatives and many friends.

Celebration of life services will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday, November 12, 2015 at the United Methodist Church, Scandia, Kansas with Pastor Kathy Aeillo officiating. Per Hazel’s wishes, cremation will follow the service and a private family inurnment of her cremains will be at a later date in the Belleville City Cemetery. Viewing and visitation will be 1:00pm to 8:00pm Wednesday with family greeting friends from 6pm to 8pm at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Belleville, Kansas. Memorials may be made to the Scandia Methodist UMW, Sherdahl Boosters 4-H, Rebecca Morrison House, Salina or Ronald McDonald House. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Belleville, Kansas assisted the Runft family with these arrangements.