Rodney 'Rod' Hazelton, 78

Rodney “Rod” L. Hazelton, 78, of Hayden, Idaho, passed away at the Schneidmiller Hospice House with his family by his side Aug. 1, 2024, due to complications from a broken hip. Rod was born Oct. 24, 1945, to Leon and Emma (Rininger) at Lake City General Hospital in Coeur d’Alene. Rod attended Coeur d’Alene High School. He met the love of his life, Connie Shaw, and they were married Jan. 17, 1964. They were married at the Coeur d’Alene Wedding Chapel at the ages of 16 and 18 years old and celebrated 60 ½  years of marriage this year. Rod and Connie have two children: a son, Mark, and a daughter, Jodie.

Rod started working at the Coeur d’Alene box factory, then went on to the Forest Service. He then worked for Smitty’s Carpets on the service master side, becoming a carpet installer in 1968. Rod then became an independent installer in 1978.

Rod was a member of the championship all-star baseball team, Coeur d’Alene Clothiers, during the season of 1959 at the age of 14. He also played many other sports. He loved all music and was a great dancer. He played the drums in a band with his father and mother-in-law at various places all over Coeur d’Alene and more. He was an Eagles member for 22 years. Rod especially loved classic car shows and loved his 1966 Ford Falcon Sport Coupe. He was a fan of the Seattle Seahawks and the St. Louis Cardinals — and spent most of his weekends at his property on the Coeur d’Alene River with family and friends. Rod loved to entertain and play pool in his man cave, which was filled with lots of memorabilia he had collected over the years. On July 7, 1982, Rod participated in the “Build A House In A Day,” installing the carpet for Smitty’s. The house was completed in seven hours — and was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Rod was preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Emma Hazelton; his brother, Richard Hazelton; sister-in-law Gwen Hazelton; nephew Ron Hazelton; brother-in-law Delvan Shaw; mother-in-law Ethel McCaw; and father-in-law Delmar Shaw.

Rod is survived by his loving wife, Connie, of Hayden; son Mark (Charleen) Hazelton, of Post Falls; daughter Jodie (Alan) Smith, of Hayden; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Hospice of North Idaho for their care of Rod. 

Please join us for a celebration of Rod’s life at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at the Hayden Eagles Lodge, 1520 W. Wyoming Ave., Hayden, ID 83835.

Yates Funeral Home is entrusted with final arrangements. Please visit Rod’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

    Hazelton