Hazel Richard

Visitation: Thursday, March 15, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Funeral Service: Saturday, March 17, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Fort Benton.

Interment: Riverview Cemetery in Fort Benton.

Hazel Richard, age 87, long-time resident of Fort Benton passed away on Monday, March 12, 2007 at the Friendship Villa Care Center in Miles City. Hazel was born on September 20, 1919 in Oakland, Oregon, the daughter of L.H. and Ethel (Chenoweth) Armstrong. After a doctor told her parents they needed to take her out of the wet climate if they ever expected to raise her, thefamily moved to Montana when Hazel was seven.Proud that her parents had beenhomesteaders, Hazelconsidered having lived in a sod house when young to be pretty special. She attended country school in the Loma community and graduated from Fort Benton High in 1937. On October 28, 1939, HazelmarriedOrval Richard. She was fond of telling the story thatshe had fallen in love with Orvalwhen she was only 9. They farmed northwest of Loma until 1970 when they sold the farm and then lived year round in their Fort Benton home. In 2005, she moved to the Cottonwood Care Home in Miles City.

Hazel was a faithful member of the Fort Benton First Christian Church where she was involved in many facets of the church. She reallytook pleasure invisiting with friends and family, and for many yearswas a member of the SpringCouleeHobby Club.Hazelloved to cookand readherjournals. She enjoyed having a story about her titled "Through the Years,"published inthebook A SixthBowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Hazel is survived by a son Orvin Richard and wife Maryof Hamilton Square, NJ; two daughters: DorineMelnik and husband Billof Miles City, MT; and NancyRichard-Guilford and husband James Guilfordof Ventura, CA;and grandchildren Eva O'Brien and Joe DalBo. She was preceded in death byhusband Orval in 1996, eldestdaughter Linda, and sister Retta Bell.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 15, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Family will receive friends on Friday, March 16, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Fort Benton. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Fort Benton. Interment will follow in the Riverview Cemetery in Fort Benton. Condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.