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Hazel I. Wakefield,   Age 90
Visitation Location: Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN
Visitation Date/Time: Monday, April 28, 2014 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM
Funeral Time: Monday, April 28, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Funeral Location: Benson Funeral Home Chapel, St. Cloud, MN
Burial Location: Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, Minnesota
   
    HAZEL I. WAKEFIELD, 90
    Sartell
    August 29, 1923 ~ April 22, 2014
    
     Long-time St. Cloud resident, Hazel I. Wakefield, age 90, Sartell, MN died Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at the St. Cloud Hospital.
     Funeral services will be Monday, April 28, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Benson Funeral Home Chapel, St. Cloud, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, MN on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 1:00 PM.
     Hazel I. Wakefield was born August 29, 1923, to Oscar and Hilda (Hellerud) Lockrem, on the family farm in Nerstrand MN. Hazel graduated from Randolph High School, in Randolph, MN.in 1941. She enrolled in Mankato Commercial College in 1942. Her studies were interrupted by WWII. During the war, she served as a member of SPARS, the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve, stationed at Los Angeles Naval Station, in Wilmington, CA. After the War, she resumed her academic studies under the GI bill. In 1949, she received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota.
     She married the late James C. Wakefield on September 20 1952 in Northfield, MN.
    From 1950 to 1953, she was Executive Secretary to the Personnel Manager of Midland Credit Union, in Minneapolis, MN. From 1953 through 1957, she served as Director of Personnel for Office Overland, Ltd, in Winnipeg Canada. Upon the birth of her first child in 1957, she gave up her business career to raise a family. She had two children, James and Susan.
    In 1964, Hazel moved to St. Cloud, when her husband, James, was appointed Director of the St. Cloud Area Vocational-Technical Institute (now known as St. Cloud Technical and Community College). Hazel was an active volunteer in many local organizations, including AAUW (where she served as secretary and yearbook editor of the St. Cloud chapter), St. Cloud Safety Council, Campfire Girls, School District 742 Faculty Wives, Garfield Elementary PTA, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church. After her children were grown, she went back to work as a secretary for the Minnesota Highway Patrol in St. Cloud and later the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in St. Cloud, where she remained until her retirement in 1982.
     After retirement, she and her husband spent many happy years at the family cabin on Big Birch Lake by Melrose, MN, and enjoyed cooking walleye with family and friends. Hazel was an avid golfer, and played in the Wapicada woman’s league for many years. She golfed several times a week until her mid-eighties. During the winter months, Hazel enjoyed the company of a large circle of friends in Fort Meyers and Destin Florida. In later years, she was an avid bingo player at Country Manor.
     Hazel was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers Eldon and Merton and her husband, James. Survivors include her son, James M. Wakefield, of Los Angeles, CA; daughter, Susan (Bob) Wakefield-Olson of White Bear Lake, MN; sister, Beverly Gallarane of Minneapolis; and brother, Burnell Lockrem of Northfield, MN, as well as many friends.
    Hazel was a kind, gentle, and caring person. She never lost her innocence, no matter what adversity she faced. She always was in a good mood, and never had a bad word to say about anyone or anything. She looked out for others, without regard for herself. Hazel will be terribly missed by all those who knew and loved her.
     Hazel’s family would like to extend a special thanks to the caring staff of Country Manor Assisted Living who gave her a warm, caring environment in assisted living during the past several years.
     In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to either: the Country Manor Foundation; the St. Cloud Technical Community College Foundation, James C. Wakefield Memorial Scholarship; or the Center for Medicare Advocacy.
    
 
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