Hazel Baumberger

Hazel Susie Baumberger, age 109, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, in Ft. Pierre, South Dakota. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, with visitation one hour prior from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at the Onida Cemetery. CLICK HERE to watch Hazel's service online.
Hazel was born on January 29, 1916, at her grandmother Bush's home in Pierre, to John and Mary (Pitlick) Bush. She attended school in western Sully County and later worked in Onida and Pierre. Hazel met the love of her life, Art Baumberger, at a dance at Okobojo Hall. They were married on December 31, 1938, in Gettysburg and lived and worked together on their farm in western Sully County. Art passed away on November 25, 1967. Hazel continued to live on the farm for the next 19 years before moving to Pierre.
Hazel enjoyed countless birthday celebrations with her nieces and nephews. She loved to travel and experience different things, especially the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The rally became very special to her, as her nephew, Jim Bush, served as Chief of Police. At age 99, Hazel fulfilled a lifelong dream when her great-nephew, Thad Smith, gave her a ride down Main Street on his Harley. She was an avid walker and completed the Crazy Horse Volksmarch at the age of 80.
The highlight of Hazel's year was the annual Bush family picnic. The picnics began in 1937 and are still held today, 88 years later. Over the years, Hazel stayed busy creating family history scrapbooks for her nieces and nephews. She was a member of Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, the Senior Citizens Center, and the Okobojo Woman's Club. Hazel often said that God and her family were her inspiration. After she began slowing down, her favorite saying was, "You know I am 109 years old." What a lady she was.
Hazel is survived by her nephews John "Tug" (Joan) Bush of Pierre, SD, and Jim (Vickie) Bush of Sturgis, SD; nieces Dolores Evans of Mellette, SD; Madonna (Gaile) Leimer of Paynesville, MN; Genita DeSautell, Juanita Nuttall, and Sandra (Bill) Griese, all of Pierre, SD; Beverly Rilling of Los Angeles, CA; Cheryl Jean (Dick) Weischedel of Sturgis, SD; and niece-in-law Sandy Smith of Pierre, SD.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary (Pitlick) Bush; her husband, Art Baumberger; brothers Charles, Johnny, and Emmett Bush; sisters Mary Rilling, Rose Venner, and Alice Smith; nephews Robert Rilling; Lester, Oren, and John (Jack) Smith; and Larry Venner; nieces-in-law Marlyn Smith, Irene LaFurge, Lillian Venner, Alice Venner, Deanna Smith, and Marilyn Rilling; and nephews-in-law Keith Palmer, Leo Morgan, Layle Evans, Delvin Nuttall, and Clifford DeSautell.