Hazel Louise Little Dog Anderson, 69

Hazel Louise Little Dog Anderson was born May 7, 1938, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. She was very proud of her heritage. Her parents were Richard and Louise Little Dog. She was raised with nine siblings and is survived by brothers and their wives: Forrest Little Dog, Floyd and Eva Middle Rider, Donald and Shirley Little Dog, Howard and Mary Louise Little Dog, Wheeler and Maureen Little Dog and Harve' Little Dog. She was happy for the time she spent with them, and regarded them with great love and respect.

Hazel had five children, Cheryl B. Anderson, who preceded her death, Roger Timothy Anderson of Las Vegas, Kristen L. Anderson of Kalispell, Wendy M. Anderson Stuart and husband, Steve Stuart, of Kalispell, and Robin G. Anderson of Las Vegas. She had six grandchildren, Bryon T. Anderson, who preceded her death, Torrey G. Anderson, Tina M. Anderson, Jesse T. Franklin, Katrina L. Franklin and John R. Stuart, and one great-grandchild, Chloe S. Franklin, all of Kalispell. Her children and grandchildren meant the world to her. She loved them with a very strong and generous heart.

Hazel lived the first 20 years of her life on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. She was a beautiful woman and was the first North American Indian Days' Princess and participated in the Miss Indian America pageant in Sheridan, Wyo. At the age of 20, she lived in various locations of Northwestern Montana. She had her children in Kalispell and attended Flathead Valley Community College. Montana is where she considered home.

In 1975 she transferred to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M. This was the beginning of her 32-year stay in the Southwest. She lived in Phoenix, where she began her career with the U.S. government, and lived her last 24 years in Las Vegas. She retired in August 2007, with 29 years of service with the U.S. government. It was in Las Vegas that she peacefully passed Feb. 29, 2008.

Hazel was a spiritual person and had great love for and faith in Jesus Christ. She also had great respect and belief in the Native American traditions, rituals and spirituality.

In the spirit of the West, she loved her pickup truck. Hazel was lively, energetic, and adventuresome. She was the quintessential tourist and found great joy in traveling to new places, and loved going home to Glacier National Park. Humor was one of her greatest assets. She always made people laugh and smile, or entertained them with an engaging story. She had a great love for life and lived it to the fullest. She is dearly loved and will always be remembered with a smile.

'We love you, Momma, and will always miss you.'