Hazel F. Haley

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Hazel F. Haley, housewife, died Feb. 5, 2011, in Phoenix, Ariz., just two days short of her 98th birthday. She was born Hazel Fae Bahn on Feb. 7, 1913, on the homestead farm 10 miles east of Froid, Mont. Her parents were Lester A. Bahn (born on Dec. 10, 1885, in Grand Forks, N.D.) and Augusta Neiss Bahn (born on May 5, 1879, in Bonn, Germany and immigrated with her parents in 1881 through Baltimore, Md.). Hazel was the third oldest of six children (Edythe Curran, Elmer, Hazel, Evelyn McNeil, Helen Hutchison and Lester (Bill)). She was educated at a country school at Enterprise and graduated high school in Froid in 1933. She moved to Fargo, N.D., to attend the Chicago Hairdressing Academy. Once graduated (1934), she moved back to Montana and began working in various towns across the state. Hazel was baptized April 17, 1938, in the First Congregational Church in Great Falls, Mont. She met Donald True Haley, a musician, in Billings, and they married on Oct. 8, 1939 in Great Falls. They had one daughter, Bonnie Lee Mae Haley.

Hazel and family lived in Seattle, Wash., Billings, and Phoenix, Ariz. While in Billings, she attended the First Congregational Church and worked for "Swede Carlson" demonstrating Ironrite Ironers in the 1950's. She advertised the ironers on TV commercials blindfolded to show how easy it was to use and taught new owners how to utilize their new ironer.

Hazel enjoyed sewing and especially dancing. She won a 1st place trophy for ballroom dancing in San Francisco in the late 1970's.

Hazel was preceded in death by husband Don on Jan. 13, 1971; and all of her brothers and sisters. Survivors include her daughter Bonnie and her husband William Redus from Phoenix, Ariz.; grandson Randy Sean Redus, wife Kimberly Ann (Brunson) and two great grandchildren, Haley Elizabeth and Zachary Sean from Colorado. Haley and Zach were the love of her life. Additional survivors included her sisters-in-law Alice Bahn of Cheyenne, Wyo., Arvilla Bahn of Ellensburg, Wash.; plus nieces, nephews and their families living in Montana and various states..

Cremation was handled in Phoenix, Ariz. Graveside services will be at the Mountview Cemetery, 1704 Central Avenue at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 18.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in Hazel's name to: Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, Arizona 85014 or call 602.530.6992 or on the web at www.hov.org/donations.aspx.