Hazel Harness

OBITUARY
HAZEL J. HARNESS
April 11, 2022
Funeral service for Hazel Harness, 94 year old lifetime Flathead County Resident who passed away quietly at her home in Kila on Sunday the 10th of April, will be held Saturday, April 23rd at 2:00 p.m. at the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel in Kalispell with Reverend Mike Mattocks officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home chapel on Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Interment will be in The Glacier Memorial Gardens with graveside services to follow the funeral. There will be a reception and lunch following the graveside service at the Smith Valley Grange. Donations in Hazel’s memory may be made to the N.W. Montana Veteran’s Food Pantry at 1349 U.S. Hwy 2 E. in Kalispell, Montana 59901. Online condolences may be made at www.jgfuneralhome.com or www.harnessfuneralhome.com
Hazel Jane Harness was born on July 8, 1927 in Kalispell, Montana to Bill and Minnie Benton. She grew up and went to school in Kalispell. Hazel met Larry Harness, the love of her life in 1941 and they were married on November 23, 1942 and in 2018 celebrated 76 years together. Larry joined the U.S. Army and served during WWII leaving two days after their wedding. Larry served in Galveston, Texas and Hazel went and spent time with him there during the War. After the war they returned to Kalispell where Hazel was a homemaker and Larry worked in the woods. During those years they owned and operated a sawmill and later a logging company for which Hazel was the bookkeeper. She spent time working seasonally at the Cherry Warehouse and later worked for several years planting trees for the U.S. Forest Service. They moved to Kila in 1964 where they enjoyed rural life and continued raising their family. After retirement Larry and Hazel spent time traveling to visit their children and grandchildren. A highlight for them was a 50th Wedding Anniversary trip to Alaska where they traveled the State and fished from Valdez to Homer. Larry passed away in December of 2018 and Hazel continued living in Kila until her death.
The Harness family were true outdoorsman and Hazel was right there with them camping, hunting and fishing. She was an excellent marksman and the boys loved taking her hunting because she spotted most of the game. Her passion was her family, which included her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and half of the Kila kid community. Everybody called her Ma. She was always ready to help a neighbor or take in a child that needed love. She was a pistol, she was deeply loved and will be sorely missed.
She is survived by three sons, Joe Harness and his wife Kim of Kila, David Harness and his wife Kate of Buffalo, Wyoming and Mike Harness and his wife Susan of Snohomish, Washington; ten grandchildren, Laura Rodriguez of Kalispell, Buck Harness of Longview, Washington, Hayley Miller and her husband Joe of Missoula, Montana, Pax Harness and his wife Kelly of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Sterling and Cooper Harness of Buffalo, Wyoming, Angie Hadland and her husband Karl of Bellingham, Washington, Anthony Harness of Boulder, Colorado, Tori Dennis and her husband Josh Markham of Snohomish and Andrew Dennis and his wife Becca all of Seattle. Twelve great-grandchildren; Nathan Stillson, Leslie Peden, Joseph Leigh, Slate and Locke Harness, Flint and Hudson Miller, Brooklynn, Beckett, Baker and Blake Hadland and Torin Markham; four great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and a plethora of friends, young and old.
She was preceded in death by her husband Larry, her parents, one son Tony Harness, two sisters, Phyllis Harding and Helen Grob, two brothers, Clifford and Fredrick Benton and one granddaughter Faith Harness.

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