Funeral services for Hazel Brixey, age 82 of Prairie City, will be 2:00pm Tuesday, January 2, at the Beckman Memorial Wesleyan Church in Prairie City. Pastor Brad Burkhalter will officiate with burial in the Prairie City Cemetery.


Special music will be provided by Edna Judy, Roxanne Seaman, Elva Belle Carr, Eunice Peck, and all of Hazel's grandchildren.


Serving as casketbearers are Chuck Spangler, Jim Eggebo, Wayne Palmer, Rodney Carr, Stanley Wilkinson, and Mike Randall. All of Hazel's grandchildren are considered honorary bearers.


Hazel Belle Judy was born on February 26, 1924 to James H. and Bessie E. (Snow) Judy at the family homestead near Strool, SD. As a child she loved to explore and go horse back riding with her beloved brother, Jim, and grew up loving the outdoors. She attended the country school near their home for 8 years and later graduated from Bison High School in 1941 as Valedictorian of her class. She earned a Teacher's Certificate at Northern State Teacher's College in Aberdeen, SD and taught in country schools until her marriage. She was united in marriage to Norris W. Brixey on June 15, 1945. In 1952, they fulfilled their plans to build a house on "Happiness Hill" in rural Perkins County near Prairie City, SD where they farmed and ranched until their son Stanley took over the farm. She "had fun" working on the farm, helping in the field and continued driving grain trucks during harvest for many years. She cared for her husband Norris when his health began to fail and continued his care until she was no longer able to do so.


She was a member of the Beckman Memorial Wesleyan Church in Prairie City and was active in Wesleyan Women's ministries, WCTU, and the Ladies Auxiliary of Gideons International. She was a gifted and devoted teacher and taught Sunday school classes, Wednesday night children's activities, and Vacation Bible School for many years. She devoted much of her life to helping her husband, raising Godly children and helping her neighbors whenever she could. She loved the Lord, her husband, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family and in her last years she spent much time in prayer for her family and many in the Prairie City community. She was an excellent gardener and loved all kinds of flowers. She enjoyed reading, raising chickens, farm life, embroidering, & canning. She was a great cook and will be remembered for her homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, taffy, fudge and family get-to-gathers with lots of food. She loved little animals, growing things, the outdoors, picnics, rain, and sunsets and especially visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren.


I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness…2 Timothy 4:7 & 8a. Hazel passed away on Thursday, December 28, at her daughter's home in Webster, SD.


Surviving family members include her husband, Norris, Prairie City; 1 daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn and David Dulitz, Webster, SD; 2 sons and 3 daughters-in-law, Tim and Debbie Brixey, Webster, SD; Stanley and Mary Brixey, Prairie City, SD; Nancy Brixey, Prairie City, SD; 11 grandchildren, Dena Brixey, Denise (Harvey) Tidemann, Iris (Evan) Davies, Jennifer (Dan) Beckman, James Brixey and fiancée, Julia Dixon, Heather Brixey, Kristen Dulitz, Laura Dulitz, Robert Dulitz, Robert Brixey and Jody Brixey; 5 great grandchildren, Joshua, Dylan, Jerin, and Jaylee Beckman, and Derek Davies; 1 brother and sister-in-law, James H. and Edna Judy, Prairie City, SD; 1 brother-in-law, Wilmer Bingaman, Hillcrest Care Center in Hettinger, ND.


She was preceded in death by her parents, a son David Brixey, one sister Lucille Bingaman.


In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to Gideon's International and the Jesus Film Project.


Visitation will be 1:00 to 2:00pm on Tuesday at the Beckman Memorial Wesleyan Church in Prairie City.