Funeral services for Hazel M. Tibke, age 99 of Elgin, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 21, 2009 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elgin, ND. Pastor Wayne Rouse will officiate with burial in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. Special music will be provided by Janice Steinmetz, organist.


Serving as casketbearers are Craig, Grant, David, Perry, and Brad Tibke, and Kurt Vaaler. All grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren are considered honorary bearers.


Hazel M. Markow was born on April 23, 1910 in a sod house on the Markow homestead 15 miles south of Elgin, ND. She was the oldest daughter of Frank and Minnie (Schwandt) Markow who were early settlers in the Pretty Rock Community south of Elgin. She attended a country school, then high school in Dickinson graduating in 1928. She went on to receive her teaching certificate, and taught school for several years.


Hazel married Edwin Tibke on February 1, 1930 in Elgin. They worked on the John Tibke family farm which they purchased in 1947. She kept all the financial books as well as the records for the registered cattle. She raised large gardens and did a lot of canning. She also loved flowers and won many awards at the Grant County Fair for canned items as well as floral entries.


Hazel and Edwin raised four children, Delbert, Gloria, Norman, and Ronald. Due to Edwin's failing health, they left the farm in 1959 and then operated the Heart Butte Farmers Union Camp. They moved into Elgin in 1960 and lived in a mobile home before moving to the Cole apartments in 1977. She moved Dakota Hills in 2007. From 1960 to 1974, she worked at the Jacobson Clinic and Hospital in Elgin in the lab and x-ray departments.


Hazel was an active member at Immanuel Lutheran Church, the Ladies Mission, and taught Sunday School for many years, was 4-H Leader, and active in Farmers Union. She was a member of the Antelope Homemakers for 67 years, and honored for her fifty and sixty year membership at the State Conferences, and was a charter member of the Hospital Auxiliary. Hazel started painting in the early 1970's. Her beautiful collection of paintings is enjoyed by her family. She was an avid gardener, she loved flowers and hated weeds. She made many clothes for herself and her children as well as a wedding dress for her daughters wedding. She also enjoyed doing craftwork.


Hazel passed from this life on December 17, 2009 in Bismarck at the age of 99 years, 7 months, 24 days.


Hazel will be missed by her children: Delbert, Valley City; Gloria (Martin) Vaaler, Elgin; Norman (Shirley), Bismarck; daughter-in-law Nita Tibke, Bismarck; 12 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren.


Hazel is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Edwin of 63 years, son Ronald, daughter-in-law Opal, grandson, Rodney Lee, sisters, Nettie Robb, Fern Caruful; and brother, Raymond Markow.


Visitation will be from 1:00 to the time of the family service at 6:00 pm on Sunday, December 20, 2009 at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin.