Hazel E. Caskey

Hazel E. Caskey, 100, of Willmar, died Friday, April 22nd at Carris Health Care Center and Therapy Suites.   Her funeral will be 11:00 am, Friday, May 6th at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar with interment in Lebanon Cemetery in New London.  Visitation will be from 5-7 pm, Thursday at the funeral home and continue one hour prior to the service.  www.hafh.org

Hazel was born July 7, 1921, in Lake Andrew Township, Kandiyohi County, MN, the daughter of Anders and Matilda (Nelson) Sakariason.  She was the youngest of 11 children.  She grew up on the family farm on the south shore of Lake Andrew and received her education in District 8, rural New London.  Hazel was baptized and confirmed at Lebanon Lutheran Church.  She farmed with her family and brother, Carl, raising cows, hogs and poultry until her marriage.

On April 4, 1953, she was united in marriage to Raymond T. Caskey at Lebanon Lutheran Church.  They made their home on a 160-acre farm near Priam, where they raised various crops.  They built their own farm buildings for their farrow to finish hog operation, having as many as 700 hogs.  She always enjoyed caring for the baby pigs and working as a farm wife. Raymond passed away in 1983.  Hazel continued to live on the farm with the help of her sons and helping Bill with his cabinetry work.  In 1990 she moved into a new home in Raymond where flower gardening, quilting, traveling, baking and visiting with family and friends became fun things to do.  She made hundreds of quilts on her own besides those made with relatives, friends, and church.   Traveling mainland USA, Alaska, Hawaii, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark were great ad ventures for her.

She is survived by her son, William (Kathleen) Caskey of Raymond; grandsons, Zachary and Jordan; sister-in-law, Delores Caskey of Willmar and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Besides her husband, Raymond, she was preceded in death by her parents, son, Glen; four brothers: Carl, Eddie (Bernice), Martin (LaVerne), Paul (Esther); six sisters: Anna (Thomas) Tollefson, Esther (Hans) Johnson, Mabel (Harry) Berg, Nellie (Christian) Peterson, Dora (Otto) Henschien, Clara (Johnny) Gjelhaug, as well as many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff at Carris Health Care Center and Therapy Suites for the care she received for the past three years.  Thank you also to the neighbors and friends for everything you have done for Hazel over the years. A special thank you to Pastor Wayne Kopitzke for the many visits.  We are most grateful for Hazel’s 100 years, her many blessings and the promise of salvation through his son, Jesus.

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