Hazel D. Balazic, 92

Hazel D. Balazic, 92, passed away on Oct. 7, 2012, at Health Center Northwest in Kalispell. 

Hazel was born Feb. 21, 1920. She was one of nine children born to Wallace and Ivy Turner in Fern, Ark.

In 1941, at the urging of an aunt and uncle, she ventured off to California. In 1943, she attended a dance party with soldiers in full uniform and spotted Frank T. Balazic from across the room; and it was love at first sight. She told her friend who she was with at the time that she was going to marry him, and that is exactly what she did. After courting for eight months, Frank and Hazel were wed in Las Vegas in 1944.

The couple resided briefly in Pasadena, Calif., where she was employed at Lockheed, working on communication wiring on bomber planes for the war effort. After World War II, Frank and Hazel settled on a farm/ranch in the Big Sandy area to raise their children. 

While in Big Sandy, one of Hazel’s favorite things to do was to participate on the local bowling team. She was also an excellent cook and shared her talents at the local senior citizens center and hospital. She valued and treasured the friendships formed while living in Eastern Montana.

In 1984, Frank and Hazel retired and moved to Bigfork. In her retirement years, she spent time tending to her bountiful gardens — including many varieties of roses and vegetables.

She was a devout Catholic and enjoyed attending service at St. Margaret Mary’s in Big Sandy and at St. Catherine’s in Bigfork. 

She loved bird watching, and had a special fondness for red cardinals. Her favorite fragrant flower was the magnolia from the Ozarks.

While her roots were in Arkansas, her heart was in Montana, as she often wore a sweatshirt stating, “I wasn’t born in Montana, but I got here as fast as I could.”

Above all, Hazel was a kind, gentle and loving person who enjoyed spending time with her family. 

She is survived by her four children, Timothy W. Balazic and girlfriend Misty Wilson of Kalispell, Daniel F. Balazic and wife Pam of Bothell, Wash., Linda L. Balazic of Kalispell, and Robert K. Balazic of Bigfork; grandchildren, Debi L. Dahlstrom and husband Mike of Wauna, Wash., Todd D. Balazic of Austin, Texas, and Anna Mahlen and husband Jason of Kalispell; and great-grandchildren, Savannah and Madison Mahlen of Kalispell, and Nolan Walter of Waune.

She was preceded in death in 2000 by her loving husband of 56 years, Frank T. Balazic.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon, Thursday, Oct. 11, at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Kalispell, with Father Roderick Ermatinger as celebrant. Hazel’s final resting place will be next to Frank, at the Lone Pine Cemetery in Bigfork. A rosary vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. today, Oct. 10, at the Johnson-Gloschat Chapel.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers that you practice a random act of kindness with Hazel in mind.

Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home & Crematory in Kalispell.