Wealthy Rigter

Wealthy Ann (Hazeltine) (Hodgin) Rigter was born Feb. 8, 1930, on the family ranch south of Custer, S.D., to Byron and Beatrice Hazeltine.  She attended school in Custer, graduating in 1948, and went on to attended college at South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D.  

Wealthy, then known as Susie by family and friends, married Francis (Al) Hodgin in the late ’50s and had two sons Larry A. Hodgin and Lloyd D. Hodgin. She and her family lived in Watertown, S.D., and Yankton, S.D., before returning to Custer in 1970.

Wealthy managed the Custer Chamber of Commerce for a number of years and also worked for the Custer County Chronicle. She was a member of the Custer School Board as well as various boards concerning tourism and Gold Discovery Days. Wealthy was married to John F. Rigter in 1976 and moved to a home east of Custer where she remained until 1998.

During the ’80s and into the ’90s, she worked for the Crazy Horse Memorial and operated two Custer businesses with her brothers. In 1998 to be closer to her two sons and their families, Wealthy moved to Aberdeen, where she remained until her death. 

Wealthy died Nov. 3, 2009, in Aberdeen. She was 79.

Wealthy was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Byron Hazeltine, Stillman Hazeltine, Douglas Hazeltine; husbands, Francis Hodgin and John Rigter; and nephews Scott Hazeltine and Kirk (Kristen) Hazeltine.

She is survived by her sons, Larry (Karen) Hodgin, and their sons Curt and Cory, Lloyd (Kim) Hodgin and their children Casey, Laura and Dan; brothers, John (Rose) Hazeltine and David (Joyce) Hazeltine; nephews, Bob Hazeltine, Neil Hazeltine, Rick Hazeltine, Tim Hazeltine, Jerry Hazeltine, Derek Hazeltine and their families.  A very special relationship was shared between Wealthy (Aunt Susie) and her niece, Tara (Gordy) Heggen.

A memorial service is scheduled for Nov. 27. Time and location are pending.