Hazel Bailey Obituary

    Hazel Orella Bailey, 103, of Zumbrota, died peacefully, Wednesday, June 12, 2019 in Montana.
    She was born Sept. 8, 1915 to Sever and Sigrid (Byfuglien) Berg in Zumbrota. She graduated from Zumbrota Senior High School where she played on the girls’ basketball team. Following graduation, she went on to work for the Zumbrota phone company. She married her childhood sweetheart, Howard Bailey, on Oct. 20, 1937. A year later, while at work, Hazel watched the switch board light up as people frantically called loved ones during the 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast. Her husband, who worked for NSP, was one of those calls. They discussed their options and decided together that if the world really were under attack, they would better serve the community and country by remaining at their posts. Only a few short years later, Howard would serve in the U.S. Navy during WWII. While he was away, Hazel knitted dozens of army green turtleneck sweaters to support the war effort.  Hazel and Howard raised three daughters, DiAnna, Mary Lynn and Lydia, in Zumbrota where they made a permanent home. In their later years together Howard and Hazel enjoyed traveling. She took an early interest in genealogy and together they made week long trips to Salt Lake City to spend days at the LDS Genealogical Society Library researching family history. She traveled to Europe six times, spending time in a number of different countries including Norway, where her parents immigrated from. After Howard passed away in 2000, Hazel continued to live on her own in Zumbrota. She loved to golf, was a city champion bowler and played a mean game of Bridge. In fact, she was still playing Bridge, and winning, at 101. She was also a talented musician. She played the piano, the organ and the ukulele. She was also an oil painter. She had a sweet tooth and her grandchildren remember sneaking candy from recycled marshmallow fluff jars. Her fudge was amazing and she enjoyed eating French silk pie. Hazel spoke fluent Norwegian, was a lifelong member of the Sons of Norway and traveled with her grandchildren to Skogfjorden language camp. She was also a lifelong member of the United Lutheran Church, later the United Redeemer Lutheran Church in Zumbrota. After her 100th birthday she moved to Montana to be closer to family there.
    She will be missed by many, including her daughters, DiAnna Kirk of Bozeman and Lydia Bailey of Red Wing; son-in-law, Wayne Gustafson; seven grandchildren; Anita (Mark) Svoboda, Alison Javorina, Andrew Weber, Brian Schinke, Indeah (Jason) Yockey, Elliott Kann and Laure'n Kann; eight great-grandchildren, Mylo and McKenzie Svoboda, Logan and Thor Javorina, Sienna and Anders Yockey, Tyler and Nathan Weber; and two great-great-grandchildren, Warner and Henderson. She was preceded in death by her husband Howard; daughter, Mary Lynn Gustafson; son-in-law, James Kirk; grandson-in-law, Stephen Javorina; siblings, Inga, Elaine and Orvil.
    Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Monday, June 24 at United Redeemer Lutheran Church in Zumbrota. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. If you wish, in honor of Hazel, please wear something pink. Online condolences maybe left for the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.