Hazel Toavs

Hazel L. Pickthorn (Toavs) was Born April 5, 1927 to Lewis and Elsie Pickthorn in Bainville, Montana. She had several brothers, Chet, Lyle, Gayle and one sister Gloria. She went to grade school in Bainville, Montana, then the family moved to Wolf Point where she met and married her love, Frank Toavs in 1947. Hazel had two sons Garry and Michael, they were her pride and joy.

In 1949 Frank, Hazel and the boys moved to Saint Ignatius where they ranched until their retirement in 1986. On the ranch they raised cattle, chickens and had the most amazing trout pond. Hazel was a fantastic gardener. She had blue ribbon flower and vegetable gardens as well as orchards. On their ranch they were self-sufficient long before being self-sufficient was cool.

Hazel was a strong Christian woman, her faith was important to her. You didn’t know her very long before you knew of her unwavering faith in Christ. She was very active in the churches they attended in Saint Ignatius, Ronan, Arlee and Bigfork. She was involved in women’s ministry and was a prayer warrior. Most recently she was an attendee of Adventure Church in Kalispell. She was an adopted grandma to everyone there and will be greatly missed.

When Frank and Hazel retired from the ranch in 1986, they moved to Bigfork and have lived there since. Frank Passed away 7 years ago and Hazel lived independently in their home until several weeks ago. She was an avid reader and continued gardening and caring for her own lawn even up to this summer. She never shied away from hard work. Second only to Hazel‘s faith in Christ, her family was most important to her. She prayed daily for them. Her face lit up whenever she had the opportunity to be around her family especially the Littles and was always ready for a party! Hazel had 8 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and 21 great- great grandchildren. She always had time to talk to the Littles and answer their questions. Even if the question was “wow how old are you really? “

When asked a few years ago how she wanted people to remember her, Hazel said “I want people to remember me as a woman of faith and that I prayed daily for my children, my grandchildren, my great grandchildren and my great-great grandchildren “

Hazel was proceeded in death by her mother, her father, two brothers, her sister and the love of her life, her husband Frank.

The family would like to thank Logan Health Hospice for the support and love they provided her during the last days of her life. We would also like to thank Pastor Jim Davey of Adventure Church for coming daily to pray, give encouragement and read scripture to Hazel.

She requested that any memorials in her honor to be gifted to the Gideons for Bible distribution.