Father James W. Hazelton, age 93, a retired priest of the Diocese of Helena passed away on March 18, 2020.
Father Hazelton was born February 6, 1927 in Helena to Wilfred and Stella Hazelton. He lived the first five years in Townsend and became a resident of Helena when the family moved there.
He attended St. Helena Grade School, Cathedral High School and graduated from Carroll College in 1949 with a degree to be a high school teacher. He worked as a common laborer at Mike Horse Mine northwest of Helena during the summer months. After graduation he didn’t have a teaching job and the mine didn’t have a teacher and he was asked to fill in. He taught one year at Mike Horse, four years at Wolf Creek and then returned to his alma mater at St. Helena where he taught and coached for three years.
In 1957, he was accepted as a candidate for the priesthood and he was ordained in 1961. He served as an assistant at St. Joseph Church in Butte for three years and then was accepted as a candidate to work in the Guatemala Mission project of the Diocese of Helena where he served for 47 years.
His first parish in Guatemala was the small village of Sant Maria Visitacion, a mountain parish of people of Mayan descent. He rediscovered his teaching vocation when he found his parish contained many villages with no access to education. He trained young men with sixth grade educations to be teachers and then provided schools for them. His project attracted more than a thousand young people eager to study.
Father Hazelton was very proud of the eight young men from this parish that were ordained to the priesthood.
When the second parish of the Helena Mission, Santo Tomas La Union, became vacant he moved there where he continued his interest in educating young people. With the generous help of the people in the Helena Diocese he was able to build a junior-senior school to prepare primary school teachers. The school grew to have 600 students.
He celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination in June 2011 and retired in August of that year to live in Helena where he enjoyed hiking in the surrounding mountains.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mary Rita Cinker and Eileen Quinn. He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Hazelton, his nieces Kathy Quinn and Karen Alley, and nephew Michael Price. The family would like to give special thanks to the people at Compassus Hospice and Cooney Health for the care they provided during his last illness.
A private family Funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 with Rite of Committal to follow the Mass at Resurrection Cemetery. A celebration of his life will be planned for a later date.
If you wish to view the video of Father Hazelton’s funeral mass, please go to the Diocese of Helena’s You Tube profile and choose the video titled: Funeral Mass-Fr. James Hazelton | March 25, 2020
Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Father Hazelton.
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Catherine Murphy says
Father was a great man indeed. And was so loved by so many. In my childhood at St. Helena’s Grade School , I remember fondly the fundraising days for “Father Hazelton” , which later became Hazy Days. The yearly bazarres in the church basement were always amazing. In addition to all the good he did in Guatamala, he inspred grade school kids , and adults as well to feel joy through giving. RIP Father.
Donna Kraliicek Link says
I was so saddened to hear about Fr. Jim’s passing. When I worked at the Diocese, our office was blessed in working with Father during his years at Guatemala. His remarkable work during that time will live on forever in the hearts of the people he served. An amazing man who had the capacity to work among the poor, giving them the hope they needed for a better future. He truly knew the meaning of being a servant. I adored him. He will live in my heart always. God bless all of you.
Mary Rachel Flynn,SCL says
Dorothy, many fond memories of Him and of your whole family when we were neighbors and grade to high school students. Jim walked right into Heaven for sure, welcomed by Stella and the rest of your family. I’m very much with you, thanking our God for this fine and fun priest and teacher.
Theresa Racicot says
Dear Dorothy and family,
We are remembering Fr and all your family in our prayers. We have fond memories of Hazy Days and his masses when he was home visiting. How my kids loved your mother.
John (Butch) Matthews says
Thoughts and prayers go to you, Dorothy, on your brother’s passing. Have not seen you since my father passed in 1984, but remember you so very well from our days at Industrial Accident Board. May God Bless you and yours, and have mercy on your brother’s soul.
Mary Sylvia Ferguson Judge says
Dear Dorothy,
My sympathy over the loss of your brother, Father Jim. He was a friend of my brothers and I remember well going to his ordination. It was a very special day. May God bless you and all of your relatives during this time of sorrow.
John Thomas says
Dear Dorothy,
Father Jim was an exceedingly important individual to many families but was a legend in the Thomas Family. As a sophomore at Cathedral he asked Fr. Weber if they could have a basketball team, “he stated if you can find a coach, you can have a team.” He asked my dad and the Greenies were off and running. Later my dad took Jim and several other Boy Scouts to the Bob Marshall Wilderness, assisting them on there way to the Eagle Award.
Mid to late fifty’s Fr. Jim was a student teacher for me in 6th grade and then was are basketball coach the following couple of years. Following his calling to Guatemala, my dad was thrilled to assist his mission as well as prepare his and many priests in Helena their tax returns. With the death of my Father in 1981, I assumed the Thomas Family support of his arduous effort at his Church and School.
I was so pleased to have been able to stop by last September to see you and Fr. Jim, who noted it was one of his worst days. When I left
I realized it would be the last time I would see Fr. Jim and mentioned to Candie Cain at Carroll, I thought he would be taking his flight to be with our dear lLord within the week. Definitely proved me wrong
Peace, love, joy and happiness — Dr. John P Thomas Jr [for the John and Ethel Thomas Family]
Sheila McShane-A says
Fr “HAZY” as he was to us who worked and served with him so many years in Guatemala. I miss him as friend but many memories to cherish. I am a good friend of His sister Dorothy, here very close neighbor and friend. I hope to go out and share with her after corona virus passes. Sheila McShane
Dennis McCarty says
I had the pleasure of working with Fr. Jim in Sta. Maria Visitacion when I was with the Peace Corps during the mid-1970s. His service there was extraordinary. He certainly earned his place in heaven.
Francisco López Tzoc says
Yo fui uno de los beneficiados por el ayuda que brindó en Guatemala. Dedico mi tiempo como catequista de confirmación en honor al Reverendo James W Hezelton ( Padre Santiago como lo llamamos aquí en la Boca Costa de Nahualà , del departamento de Sololá