Hazel Black, age 97, of Helena

Hazel Marie Black passed away July 2, 2013. She was 97 years old. Hazel was born on March 4, 1916, in a small house on Walnut Street in Helena to Thomas and Julia McMillan. She was the third of five children.

She was raised on a ranch in the Birdseye area, where she attended school in a one-room schoolhouse, and later went to Helena High School. On June 18, 1932, she married Leo Black in Townsend. Together they had five children. In the 1940s, the family lived in Vanport, Ore., where Leo worked in the shipyards as a welder for the war effort. They moved back to Helena in 1945, where they built the family home.

Hazel worked at Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph as an operator for many years. In those days when you placed a telephone call, hers was the voice you heard say “number please.” She retired in 1981 as an operator supervisor.

Hazel and Leo, together with Andy Sangray, had a small band called Black’s Orchestra. They played for Saturday night dances at the country schools in the late ’40s and ’50s. Hazel played the piano, Leo was on the drums and Andy played the fiddle. Hazel lost Leo on April 24, 1980. She continued to live in the family home until 2012.

Hazel loved taking care of her flower gardens, sewing, reading, playing horseshoes, and especially family gatherings, where she taught all her grandchildren to play poker. But most of all she loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Hazel was preceded in death by two sons, Jack L. Black and Robert E. Black, both of Helena. She is survived by two daughters, Beverly Ann (Ed) Bezanson, of Seeley Lake, and Pamela Jean (Bob) Walker, of Joliet; sons, James F. (Sharon) Black, of Helena, and Ken (Amy) Black, of Powell, Wyo.; grandchildren, Ed Bezanson Jr., Pam Copely, Jim Bezanson, Paige Thomas, Janet Hunt, Dallas Whiting, Jeremy Hamilton, Curt Black, Steven Black, Laurie Logan, Cherie Stobie, Kelly Black, Dayna Ogle, Scott Black, and Jacky Smith; daughters-in-law, Viletta Black and Janie Black; a special friend, Ann Pierce; as well as numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. She was the matriarch of the family and will be missed.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at Forestvale Cemetery at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 20