Late Afternoon July 2, 2025, John (better known as Hazen or Johnny Boy to most), passed peacefully after a 15+ year battle with Frontotemporal Dementia. For the past 9 years he was taken care of by the wonderful staff at Montana Mental Health Nursing Care in Lewistown, MT. John was 69 years old.
John was born in Williston, ND on April 9, 1956. He was the youngest child of R.E. Hazen and Alice Loman.
Moving at a young age to Montana, John lived in Helena and Great Falls, then settled in Helena in 1968. In John’s younger years you could always find him riding a bicycle, unicycle, or dirt bike while tagging along with his older siblings Richard, Pamy, and Michael. One of John’s favorite childhood stories was jumping the freight trains in Helena, taking a day trip to Missoula with his brothers!
John attended Helena High School, but while school was in session you could usually find John under the hood of a car. His passion for anything with a motor stayed with him all his life. John was known for (some say a legend) having the nicest hot rods, boats, motorcycles, & snowmobiles in town! He always had the engine that couldn’t be beaten, and if it was, he built a better one!
On July 10, 1982, John married Darcy Rude. To their marriage they welcomed their only child Jennell Marie Hazen in 1987.
John worked hard all his life, mostly to afford his expensive obsession for speed! In his younger years he worked building roads on Snoqualmie Pass with his brother Michael and pit bull Spike. Always making his way back to Montana, in 1983 he and Darcy opened “The Car Center” auto detailing shop that became very well known in Helena. John also sold cars for a few years for Planet Motors and Marks-A-Lot in Helena. Always going back to his mechanical roots, he opened Hazen Auto Repair & Custom Exhaust. Any car problem, needing a loud exhaust system, or an engine built, John was your guy!
John’s biggest passions in life were hot rods, a well-built big block, and an American made Chevrolet. John was an avid pool player, playing in leagues for many years and a few tournaments in Las Vegas. In 1991 John won the world record in AHRA A-Modified/Super Stock class drag racing with his ’88 Oldsmobile Cutlass running a 9.99 ¼ mile in Spokane, Washington. When someone asked Jennell later that year if she knew this guy, she replied “Yeah, that’s my dad the world record holder!”
John had so much love for Montana and all its beauty, it was his happy place. He always enjoyed creek fishing and looking for the perfect buck come hunting season. During cold Montana winters you could find John on the back of a Polaris snowmobile, known for having a lot of “tricks” up his sleeve to make his sled run better than most! When spring and summer came around John was always at a car show or on the lake with his flat bottom boat. Most people would say they would only ride in Hazen’s boat ONCE! In John’s later years he always enjoyed jumping in his flatbed Chevy, putting the oldies on, and taking a scenic ride on the frontage road with Kristy to Wolf Creek or Craig for some fly fishing, a burger, and letting their pit bull Scooter take a swim. On Sundays he never missed a NASCAR race, his favorites being Dale Earnhardt and Earnhardt Jr. He always had rivalries with his friends who were Jeff Gordan fans!
John had the ability to “fill a room” with his larger-than-life personality and contagious laugh! He was always telling a crazy story that no way could be true but somehow was! You only had to meet John once and you would never forget him. He had a no fear personality and lived his life to the fullest. If you asked John what his best accomplishment was in life he would say, his beautiful daughter Jennell. Together they shared a special bond, always being a Daddy’s girl.
John is preceded in death by: His parents, R.E. Hazen (Elva) and Alice Loman (Ray); brothers, Richard and Michael Hazen; nephew, Jason Ereth; foster mom, Dorothy Jungers; good friends, Bobby Williams, Dan Stewart, Harold Cole, Steve Eva, Skip Score, and Dewey Lyon and his beloved pit bulls, Spike and Scooter
John is survived by his daughter, Jennell Hazen Perros (Nick); granddaughter, Ronin Irene Perros; grandson, Knox Hazen Perros; sister, Pam Neuwerth (Bean); nephews, Jason and Joey Neuwerth and Rick Hazen; niece, MegAnn Savage; good friends, Mike Songer, Dennis Hulst, Richard Snyder, Tim Shidu, Steve Wong, Terry Thomas, Mark Byers, and many more.
Memorials for John can be sent to: The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration www.theaftd.org or the Montana Pittie Project for John’s lifelong love of pit bulls www.montanapittieproject.com
A special thanks to all the staff at Montana Mental Health Nursing Care for taking amazing care of John for the past 9 years. Also, to Linda Simmons for everything she helped Jennell with over the past 15 years and Dennis Hulst for always checking in on John and helping him whenever needed.
Jennell is asking if everyone could please write their favorite story/stories they have of their time spent with John for a keepsake for her and her children to read for years to come! You could also share these at the reception! Please bring to the service or mail at a later date.
“We think about you always, we talk about you still. You have never been forgotten, and you never will. We hold you close within our hearts and there you will remain, to walk and guide us through our lives, until we meet again.”
A service celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday August 15, 2025 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke and Retz Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A reception will follow the service in the social hall of the funeral home. We ask anyone bringing Hot Rods to come 1-2 hours early for parking.
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
11:00 a.m.
Friday August 15, 2025
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, MT 59601
Reception
Following the Celebration of His Life
Friday August 15, 2025
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, MT
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
11:00 a.m.
Friday August 15, 2025
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, MT 59601
Reception
Following the Celebration of His Life
Friday August 15, 2025
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, MT
Share
Rick Broadwater says
I was asking about John at the car show a couple of weeks ago. Truly saddened by the news of his passing. We had a lot of good times and he was a good friend. My condolence to John’s family. It’s been a long hard road John, Rest in Peace.
Rick B
Roy Moreno says
I grew up with John he lived with the Songers he was considered one of the family he was a great mechanic he helped me rebuild the engine in my 1969 GMC 3/4 TON John would build hot rods if his car got beat he’d do something to make it go faster him and Harold Cole would race each other it was an ongoing competition to see who could build the fastest car John loved doing wheelies he could do one for several blocks he could listen to an engine and tell you what was wrong I haven’t seen John for several years a good friend would let me know how he was doing when I’d see him at Son Heaven visiting with a resident or at St.Peters hospital my deepest condolences to John’s family take care my friend your smile and laugh will be missed RIP my friend till we meet again
Daryl Cheek says
I was doing some throttle therapy, just the other day I saw the white tops of the tobacco root mountains and thoughts of sledding.. and Hazen.
I asked John one day about the difficulty snowmobiling with ballz that big, of course his patented grin and laugh..
Rest in peace.
Darrell Block says
I’m saddened to hear of John’s passing and pray for him, his family and his everlasting life. It has been years since I last saw John, but have great memories of the hot rods, car shows, drag races, and parties. John was a very talented mechanic and car builder who was more than a bit crazed about speed and racing. I hope John is in hotrod heaven along with his car buddies tha have passed before him. RIP John!
Darrell Block
Claudia says
You helped me when no one else would. Stood like a Champion against Prospect Chevrolet who lied to me and you proved it, then went toe to toe with them, and got me a new engine. I never forgot that or your overall kindness with me John. I pray you have found peace. Blessings!
Rhonda Score Robertson says
John,
You were an absolute true friend to my late husband, Skip Score. I’m positive by now you’ve had a few drag races with him and Al Rose to see who could reach the next cloud the fastest 😇! I hope you won John!
I’ve heard the last several years have been hard, but now you are in Paradise and free of your pain and suffering.
May all the fond memories that family and friends hold close within their hearts sustain them in the days ahead and bring pure joy when they least expect it.
Memories never fade, families are forever 🙏
With deepest sympathy, fondly
Rhonda Score Robertson
Thomas Juhl says
John was a legend in his time, he will be remembered most for his fast cars, great smile and that little chuckle. REST IN PEACE my Friend……
Nick Thomas says
I remember John being on garage tour, the year he was building that ‘52ish Chevy pickup. In true Hazen fashion, you fired that pickup up, Jennell jumped in the passenger and he did one of the wildest burnouts I’ve ever seen. No windows in the car, still in primer. I remember watching him and getting all nervous, because he pulled out of that burnout sideways and he didn’t even think of lifting. John was one of the best drivers I’ve ever seen. As a kid, I loved seeing John at a function, because you knew, when everyone left, John was doing a burnout. You could probably call John the king of the burnout.
Lonnie says
Although many years have passed us by since our youth when I would start my day in my little shop at my home with good intentions I would hear you pull in my driveway and thought, hmmm? You would walk in with a grin and a pepsi in one hand and before I could even speak any words you would say, well lets go see whats up in town! Sometimes we would be gone a few hrs and sometimes many hrs! The first time I actually met you I was going in B&B Market on Rodney St. and you were coming out. You were driving your 66 Chevelle named ” Rapid Rat “! The hood was off and a tunnel ram with two carbs were setting about mid windshield and as I stopped to look your ride over we said our names and shot the shit for a few and he ended by saying well, maybe we will run into each other later? I waited to see you drive off just to hear that motors sound and little did I know when you pulled out into the street you were not going to disappoint me by doing one of the most out rages burnouts all the way up the block and through the next stop sign! As I stood there in a maze of smoke rising up into the sky I knew I wanted to be one of your friends! And that led to a many years of hanging out, building engines and ventures! Thank You John for all the great memories and inspiring me as your friend to live life the way we did. Lonnie
Roy Moreno says
I remember one particular story John was at his second home the Songers he had a car in their garage he was putting a motor in I was there watching him when he asked me to get under the car and help guide the engine into place while he lowered it I looked and asked him if it was safe to do so John had jacked the car up with couple big house Jack’s he shook the car insuring it was ok it not going to fall this was the one time I seen John visibly shaken I got under the car he was lowering the engine all of a sudden he yelled Roy watch out the car fell off one of the jacks so I turned side ways there was a space in between frame and door that able to move into John’s yelling are you ok I said yes get this thing off me he was as white as a sheet thinking he had killed me I started laughing and said it’s not going to fall huh he gave me a bih bear hug and was so happy I wasn’t hurt saying your one lucky sob there are so many more stories I could write a book us State street kids all 6 of us grew up together amazed a things John had built to amuse himself we all will miss him
Shauna Longmire says
Jenelle and family,
I am so sorry for your loss, but take comfort knowing Hazen is himself again. Now, when I see a little haze in the sky, I will chuckle knowing John is up there lighting ’em up and burning ’em down!
It took me awhile to figure out one of my best stories about your Dad, but when I saw Shop Teacher Thomas’ name, I knew the prefect story!
I used to give Shop Teacher Thomas heck all the time that he could paint a car beautifully, but Hazen could build a way better engine!! One night Terry and I were having a beer and once again the talk turned to building engines. Once again, I was pro-Hazen!! Terry told me he was racing Hazen the next day and asked me if I wanted to make a bet! I said “Sure!”!! The next weekend ran into Terry again and he said “You owe me some money!” to which I replied “Why? For loosing to Hazen?”. Terry looked at me and said “you read the paper.”. I didn’t need to read the paper, but I had, to know Hazen won! I knew who could and DID build the engines!!!
Allan Stricker says
I got to know John pretty well over a good number of years. While he was a master at finding more horsepower nearly everywhere, he was adamant about not being beaten. Who else carries tools to re-jet carburetors and reset clutches on a snowy mountainside, just to “high point.” When he got Doc Score to say, “That’s good enough!” while demonstrating the performance of his new turbo installation on Doc’s Mustang at only 150 mph.
John was a master a making money, surpassed only by his ability to spend it – normally in quest for more speed. This included new snowmobiles, moving from his big block tunnel hull to a nitrous Mercury engine outboard that he considered a family boat because it had four seats and would only go 107 mph. He bragged about Jennell lifting the front wheels of that pickup on the dragstrip by apparently hitting the nitrous just as she hit second gear (because he wouldn’t let her use nitrous in low gear). He was a force of nature and was struck down far too early by mental decline.
He was always a friend.