Hazel C. Stensland, 93

Hazel C. Stensland, 93, passed away on Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, at her residence in Kila. She was born April 10, 1916, out in a homestead shack by a midwife in Stanley, N.D., to John and Olga Anderson. When Hazel was 20 years old she married Hebert Hooper and moved to Jamestown, N.Y. She got a job as a nanny. She had two children, Sherman and Betty. Later she left Hebert and went back to Stanley. She met and married Nels in Sidney in 1944. They moved to Seattle during World War II to work for Boeing where she was a riveter. When the war was over they looked for a farm in Montana. They looked all over Montana and finally settled in Kalispell. They purchased a place south of town where they lived from 1947 through 1954. In 1953 they bought acreage near Kila and moved 16 head of cattle onto it. They drove up every day to milk and feed the cattle. They separated the milk and then sold the cream. Hazel raised cattle from 1953 to 2008. During that time she was a cook and manager of the Cadillac Hotel Restaurant. She also loved gardening, fishing, huckleberry picking and canning. She was a member of the Eagles. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Nels, in 1966; a daughter, Betty Baker; three brothers; and two sisters. She is survived by two sons, Sherman Hooper of Kalispell, and Daniel Stensland and wife, Margie, of Kila; seven grandchildren, Cindy, Peggy, Jerry, Daniel, Steven, John and Gary; nine great-grandchildren; and one very special great-great-grandson, Colton. Funeral services for Hazel will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be from noon until service time. Burial will follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Hazel s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Hazel s guest book, offer condolences and share memories.