Hazel "Tootie" May Maher

Hazel “Tootie” (Becker) Maher, 86, of Redfield, SD, passed away Wednesday, June 16, 2021, surrounded by her loving family at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield. 

Visitation will be on Monday, June 21, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield with a scriptural prayer service and rosary at 7:00 p.m.  Family will be present beginning at 6:00 p.m. to accept condolences. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 22, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Redfield.  Reverend John Short will officiate.  For those unable to attend in person, the funeral service will be live-streamed to the funeral home’s website.

Burial will follow in St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home (www.hykefuneralhome.com).

Hazel “Tootie” May Becker was born August 29, 1934, to Walter and Myrtle (Berberich) Becker in Midland, SD.  She attended all twelve years of school at Ashton Public School and graduated in 1952.

She married Gene R. Maher on November 11, 1954, in Redfield, SD. To this union, three children were born.  They lived on a farm seven miles west of Athol, SD.  Tootie worked at The First National Bank in Redfield for thirteen years.  Then she worked at the Redfield Public School for twenty years as a teacher’s aide.

Gene and Tootie sold the farm and moved to Redfield in 2009.  Tootie loved to travel and play “tourist” with her dear friend, Barb Miller.  Her hobbies included collecting elephants, salt and pepper shakers, and card making.  She also belonged to the Red Hat Society.

Tootie is survived by her husband of 66 years, Gene; daughters: Debbie (Bob) Stroud of Redfield and Carol (Darwin) Burton of Bonilla, SD; and grandsons: Dustin (Carisa) Maher and their children:  Paige, Brynn, Braxon, and Deagan of Redfield;  Bryce (Kayla) Maher and their children:  Briar, Kolton, and Harlen of Redfield; Dallas (Lacey) Burton and their children:  Eastlyn and Dayson of Bonilla;  Tyler (Jennifer) Burton and their children:  Renner and Millie of Redfield;  Kendall (Kelli) Stroud and their children:  Chloe, Madyson, and Coyer of Redfield; and Daniel (Danielle) Stroud and their children:  Rixon, Ryken, and baby due soon of Huron, SD.  Tootie’s only granddaughter, Kelsey (John) Spotanske and their children:  Aidyn, Kalli, and JP of Athol.  She is also survived by her great-great grandson:  Bridger Maher-Rohlfs.

Tootie is preceded in death by her son, Brian Ray Maher (2009); parents; sisters Eleanor Lewis and infant Dorothy Mae; and brothers Clarence and Donnie.