Hazel I. Ekholm, age 99, passed away at the Wesley Towers Thorne Care Center, Hutchinson, KS, on December 13, 2022. She was born August 26, 1923, on the rural Conway family farm. She was the daughter of Dewey C. Slabach and Lottie K. (Rump) Slabach. She graduated from Windom High School in 1941.
On March 24, 1946, Hazel was united in marriage to Wilmer Oscar Ekholm in Hutchinson, KS. They lived on a farm south of Windom all their married life until moving to Hutchinson in 2011. He preceded her in death on January 15, 2013.
She worked as a secretary for Farmers Alliance Mutual Insurance, McPherson and for Cessna, Hutchinson.
She was a longtime member of Andover Lutheran Church, rural Windom.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; sisters, Pauline Scott, Thelma Barcus, and Marjorie Goertzen; a brother, Kenneth Slabach; brothers-in-law, Myron Scott and Steve Barcus; and nieces, Peggy Pope and Sharon Davis.
Survivors include brother-in-law, Wayne Goertzen of Buhler; sister-in-law, Lois Slabach of Clearwater; nephews, Jim Barcus of Wichita, Richard Barcus (Kathy) of Wichita, Brock Slabach of Leawood, Troy Slabach (Michelle) of Newton, Lyle Goertzen (Natalie) of Buher, and Wendell Goertzen (Terri) of Buhler; nieces, Kay McDoniel (Mack) of Wichita, Dee McCarty (Max) of Norwalk, CA, Becky Ratzlaff (Myron) of Bel Aire, and Julie Nauss (Jim) of Berthoud, CO. Survivors on the Ekholm side include nephews, Bob Raleigh, Jr. (Cindy) of Rockford, IL, Rick Raleigh (Pam) of Fremont, WI, and Richard Birkes (Mae) of McPherson; nieces, Judy Clark (Preston) of Hutchinson, KS, Gwen Oleen (Glenn) of Falun, KS, and Renee Raleigh of Rockford, IL; and many more extended family and friends.
The funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, December 19, 2022, at Andover Lutheran Church, rural Windom, with Pastor Anna Borders officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM, Monday, until service time at the church. Burial will follow the service at Andover Cemetery.
Memorial donations are suggested to Andover Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.
Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.stockhamfamily.com.