Hazel Verna (Main) Stadel was born to Claude and Ella (Lammert) Main on October 4, 1921, at Dupree, South Dakota. She was raised on the family homestead northwest of Dupree along Thunder Butte Road. She attended the Main School and graduated from Dupree High School in 1939. Teaching was her passion. In the 51 years of her career, she touched the lives of many.

Hazel had a deep love for music, teaching herself to play the family’s old pump organ. She became quite proficient on the accordion as well. She enjoyed dancing, especially waltzes. It was at one of the many country school house dances that she met her future husband Herbert Stadel. They were married January 16, 1944, making their home in Isabel. They owned and operated the B&B Café in Isabel from the fall of 1953 to 1955. Then Herbert returned to the building trades and Hazel to teaching. Hazel enjoyed traveling. She took many college bus tours, seeing all 50 states and all the provinces of Canada.

Besides teaching, Hazel sold Stanley Home Products, was active in the Republican Party, sat on many election boards, was a Dewey County Library Board member, was an active member of both the American Legion Auxiliary and Better Homemakers Extension Club, and a member of the United Church of Christ.
In the fall of 2014, she moved to Edgewood Vista in Spearfish. Then in 2018 she moved to Bella Vista (Avantara) in Rapid City.

Hazel passed away on Wednesday, August 14 at the Avantara St. Cloud Nursing Home in Rapid City.
Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings Bill (Florence) Main, Marcella Main, Eva (Wallace) Brams. She is survived by her sister Shirley (Herbert) Martian of Downey, California, her son Alvin (Rose) Stadel of Laurel, Montana, her daughter Myrna Rae (Jim) Smith of Owanka, South Dakota, grandchildren Jason (Stephanie) Stadel of Ft Meade, Maryland, Kyle (Amy) Stadel of Columbus, Montana, Andrew Smith, Gary Smith, Melanie (Scott) Morrow all of Rapid City, South Dakota and David Smith of Denver, Colorado great grandchildren JB Stadel, Tony Stadel, and Halee Brubaker.

Services for Hazel will be Wednesday, August 21st at the Behrens Wilson Funeral Home in Rapid City with Reverend Ed Coates officiating. Visitation will be at 9:00 am with services to begin at 10:00 am. Interment will be at 1:30 pm at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.