Hazel Hunt Pederson, 84
Hazel Hunt Pederson passed away at her home on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021.
She was born Oct. 17, 1936, in Troy, Idaho, to Mabel and Balt Hunt. She attended grade school and high school in Sandpoint, Idaho, where she was the valedictorian. She attended Eastern Washington college on a music scholarship playing the violin. After one year she transferred to the University of Idaho, working her way through college earning a Bachelor of Science Business degree. She married William “Bill” L. Pederson, Sept. 6, 1959. After first being married, they moved every two years because of Bill’s job with the Forest Service. They lived in Kingston, Idaho, St. Regis, Montana and Livingston, Montana, then spent five years in Spotted Bear between the Great Bear and Bob Marshall wildernesses. They adopted Patti in 1964 and then Michael in 1966. In 1970 they moved to Bigfork where they have spent the rest of the time. After raising the children and they entered high school, Hazel took a “part time” job as a Realtor. This job turned into a full-time adventure where she excelled because of her personality and her honesty. She enjoyed the work and the people she encountered. She also designed and drew the plans for the house they built, and then excelled at the interior designing. Hazel spent countless hours planting and maintaining a wide variety of beautiful flowers in her yard. She also enjoyed skiing and traveling with her friends and family.
Hazel was a founding member of Chapter BH, Sisterhood of PEO. She was passionate about the PEO Scholarship Fund, helping local youth obtain a scholarship to help them get a college degree. Something she would say was “Always do well in school, read a lot, have fun and be kind to people and you will have a lot of friends and be happy.”
Hazel was preceded in death by her parents. Her brother Bill was declared Missing in Action in November of 1966 in the Vietnam War.
She is survived by her loving husband Bill to whom she was married 62 years, her daughter Patti and son Mike. She also leaves behind granddaughter Tiffany Romero, her husband Mike and great-grandchildren Ben and Brayden; also, grandson Brian Welzenbach, and Brooke and great- grandchildren Ava, Brody and Carter.
Hazel’s funeral service will be at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 15. There will be a luncheon to follow the service.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family asks for contributions to “PEO Chapter BH Scholarship Fund.” Checks can be sent to P.O. Box 438, Bigfork, MT 59911.