Hazel Ruth Williams
1916 - 2015 | Obituary
On May 2, 1916, Hazel Ruth Williams was
born, the 8th of nine children of Bertha Vesper
Williams and Harry Allen Williams near
Walton, Kansas. She passed away on April 6, 2015 at
Newton Presbyterian Manor, Newton,
Kansas.
With her sunny disposition, Hazel knew
a special place in her warm, jovial family. Although not
blessed with material wealth, Hazel
grew up sharing an abundance of love, integrity, joy and
compassion within the family and the
surrounding community.
Hazel completed eight grades in a
one-room country school near Walton, and she graduated
from Newton High School in 1934. In
1935 she earned a teacher's certificate from Emporia
State Teachers College, following which
she taught two years for Stone School, east of Newton,
Kansas. She married Fred Dudte on May
30, 1937 at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa.
After their First year of marriage in
Miltonvale, Kansas, they farmed together in Harvey County
until retirement in 1976 when they
moved to North Newton, Kansas. In 2006 they moved to
Newton Presbyterian Manor. Hazel
especially enjoyed gardening, canning, baking, visiting and
sharing her bounty with others. In
addition, she served numerous church and civic
organizations in the Newton area
throughout her lifetime.
As a child, Hazel took art lessons, the
foundation for her lifelong love of painting and drawing.
She shared paintings with many friends
and family, and in recent years her beloved painted
rocks. For many years, Hazel provided
"chalk talk" programs for local groups, often
accompanied by Fred on the organ.
Most of all Hazel will be remembered
for her cheerful optimism, love of life and active faith. She
had a special love for every child born
into her large family circle. She made friends easily and
cherished every one who crossed her
path. These qualities were rooted in her faith which she
expressed as "every day God is
very near, answering many prayers, loving, protecting, guiding,
comforting, forgiving, blessing and
watching over us, showing us His way, giving us a measure
of health and much more." She
shared her faith with many people through visits and prayers in
their homes, care homes and hospitals.
She was a long-time member of First Church of the
Nazarene, Newton, Kansas.
Hazel Dudte was preceeded in death by
her husband of 71 years, Fred Dudte in 2008, her
parents and her siblings, Ardith
Williams, Inez Graham, Milo Williams, Clarence Williams, Lois
Davis, Edna Ball, Melvin Williams and
Gale Williams.
She is survived by her children; Janice
(and Vern) Schroeder of North Newton, Mick (and
Becky) Dudte of Newton, Cheryl (and
Jim) Clay of Bay?eld, Colorado, Tim (and Karen) Dudte of
Newton; and 12 grandchildren, 2
step-grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 4 step-great-
grandchildren.
Visitation will be 5 - 9 pm, Friday,
April 10, 2015 at Peterson Funeral Home with the family
receiving friends, 6:30 - 8:00. A
funeral service will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, April 11,
2015 at the First Church of the
Nazarene, Newton, Kansas with Pastor Rick Dages of?ciating.
Burial will follow at 1:30 pm at
Highland Cemetery on Dutch Avenue.
Published in The Kansan from Apr. 9 to
Apr. 11, 2015
