Hazel (Adsit) Henry, 73, of Billings passed into the presence of her Savior Jesus Christ on Aug. 8, 2004 at Billings Deaconess Clinic from a stroke the day before.
She was born Jan. 1, 1931 to Earl and Charlotte Adsit in an upstairs bedroom in Ranchester, Wyo. with her grandma as midwife. She grew up on ranches, spending from five to 15 years old in Kirby, Mont. Both of her parents passed away in her teens, so she boarded with her aunt, Emily Kalasinsky in Sheridan, Wyo., and graduated from high school there in 1948.
Hazel went on to Nurses Training at Montana State College in Bozeman and Billings Deaconess Hospital, graduating in 1951 with a Nursing Diploma (RN).
She married Robert (Bob) T. Henry in Sheridan on Sept. 17, 1950 and they made their home in Laurel for 42 years, where Bob was a carman with the Northern Pacific Railroad (later Burlington Northern).
Hazel worked part time at the Deaconess Hospital for 40 years and took great pride in caring for sick people and the elderly in Laurel and later Billings or Mesa, Ariz., where she spent the winters for her last 13 years. She "loved every minute of it" and wanted to be remembered for her friendly and willing service to nurse or help anyone who asked for or needed a helping hand.
Bob coached his sons in Little League baseball for 17 years, and Hazel was a faithful scorekeeper. Hazel brought light to the elderly by bringing her children along on visits, and loved her flower and vegetable gardens (where she also drafted her children). Later she followed her grandchildren (who "meant the world to her") in their sports activities as much as possible. The Henry family camped, fished and snowmobiled together.
Hazel responded to an alter call to receive Christ as her Savior in her teen years, and was confirmed as an adult member of the First Congregational Church in Laurel where she has been a lifelong member. Her mother-in-law, Sophie was a great inspiration to Hazel, and treated her like a daughter. In later years, Hazel attended women's Bible studies, taped, copied and delivered sermon tapes to shut-ins, and was active with Dorcas Society. In Arizona, she was an active committee woman in her trailer park, especially remembered for chairing the Head Start Children's Christmas drives.
Hazel will be missed greatly by her family and friends whose lives she touched with her heart and hands of service. Her closest companion was her sister Alice Randall of Hardin. They traveled together often and called one another daily.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Gladys Pilch of Sheridan; two brothers to accidents, Ray (of Hardin) and Glenn (of Kirby); and husband, Bob in 1992 after a sustained illness.
Hazel is survived by her children and their spouses: daughter, Christy (Randy Vogel, Billings) and children, Matt (Bakersfield, Calif.), Jeremy (Tracie, Billings), and Katie (Jesse Bergman, Billings); son, Dale (Jean) and children, Colin and Timothy (Tashkent, Uzbekistan); son, Alan (Becky, Great Falls) and children, Jonathan, Zachary (USAF), Nathan, Jacob, Daniel, Gabriel, Jessie and Rebecca; son, Mark (Brenda, Spokane, Wash.) and children, Anna, Brian and Micah; nieces and nephews, Cindy Adsit (Renton, Wash.) and Melody Schnell (Boring, Ore.), Karen Nedens (Bob, Lockwood) and Don (Julieanne, Pine Bluffs, Wyo.); and sisters-in-law, Marion Cook (Troutdale, Ore.), LaDonna Foos (John, Helena) and Joyce Armstrong (Rich, Helena).
A Memorial Service to celebrate Mom's Homegoing will be 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10 at the Laurel First Congregational Church, followed by interment at the Laurel Cemetery.
Tax-deductible Memorials may be sent to: Sunshine Acres Children's Home 3405 N. Higley Rd., Mesa, AZ 85215 or First Congregational Church 506 S. 5th St., Laurel, MT 59044.