Hazel Holt, 97, of Faulkton, passed away Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Faulkton Area Medical Center, surrounded by her family.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Faulkton, with Fr. John Short presiding. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. A rosary will be prayed at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, prior to the funeral.

Hazel Bowar was born on October 30, 1928, at the Faulkton Hospital, the third child of Herman “Pat” and Josephine (Wherry) Bowar. She began her education at the Selting Country School near their home and later graduated from Faulkton High School with the Class of 1946.

On May 14, 1947, Hazel married William “Bill” Holt at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Faulkton, SD. They made their home on Bill’s farm in Devoe Township in southeast Faulk County. To this union, nine children were born—five girls and four boys. Many family gatherings were held at the farm, as it was simply easier to host everyone there than to try to “corral” all the children into a car.

Hazel was an active member of the St. Thomas Catholic Altar Society, Catholic Daughters of America, Extension Club, Abundantly Blessed group, and the Cancer Society. In 2000, she became a Third Order Carmelite Associate with the Mother of Mercy Monastery in Alexandria, SD.

Faith, family, and friends were her “line up for life.” She loved sunrises and sunsets, God’s natural paintings, even snow. She adored her family and insisted on holding every new baby for a photo. “God is great, God is good!”

Her hobbies throughout the years included sewing, quilting, entertaining guests, playing Scrabble and crossword puzzles, and working on picture puzzles.

Hazel is survived by her children: Judy Roth, Joanne Graves, Nancy Roach, Dale (Kim) Holt, Roger Holt, Wayne (Pearl) Holt, David (Shirley) Holt, Marie Holt, and Melanie (Bruce) Glawe; 38 grandchildren; 45 great grandchildren; one brother, Eugene (Jeanette) Bowar; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; loving husband, Bill Holt; great granddaughter, Jada Holt; sons-in-law: Roger Roth and Ron Graves; brothers: Doyle (Rosalie), Ben (Geraldine), and Keith (Madeline and Sara); sister, Gwen (Cecil) Sullivan; sister-in-law: Maureen “Billie” Bowar.

Memorials in Hazel’s honor may be directed to the Faulkton Area Medical Center Foundation, PO Box 100, Faulkton, SD 57438, or St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church PO Box 394, Faulkton, SD 57438.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Hazel’s arrangements.

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