Hazel Benefield

Hazel June (French) Benefield, 77, of Great Falls, passed Sunday, October 23, 2016 from stage 4 lung cancer at Peace Hospice.A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28, 2016 at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Hazel was born on June 8, 1939 in Pembroke Dock, South Wales. She was raised in South-End-On Sea, Essex, England with her two sisters, Valerie and Elizabeth, and brother Brian. In 1957, she met a young American soldier, Woodrow Woody Benefield, and they were married on August 30, 1957. On October 7, 1958, she came to the United States to live in Adel, GA. In 1959, they moved to Great Falls to be with her sister, Valerie and her family.Hazel was a homemaker most of her life. She enjoyed gardening and crocheted. She spent many years at the farmers market selling her wares.Hazel is survived by her husband, Woodrow Woody; daughter Verity (Michael) Brooks; sister Valerie French; granddaughters Allison (Ross) Schwalm and Rebecca (William) Longoria; great-grandson Lincoln; niece Ria French; nephews Kim (Kathy) Schendel and Wayne (Sharon) Schendel; three great-nieces and two great-nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Agnes French; brother Brian; sister Elizabeth; and great-nephew Caleb Schendel.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hazels favorite charities, Great Falls Rescue Mission, 317 2nd Ave. S., Great Falls, MT 59401 or Samaritans Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.