Hazel Geraldine Harvey graduated in the Wheatland High School class of 1936. She married Arnold R. Bomgardner of Guernsey on August 31,1936. They had two children known locally as Lyle and Lani, and were active in the farming community of Slater Flats until they moved to Wheatland in1961. In 1978 they retired together to Casa Grande, Arizona where Hazel enjoyed researching and compiling a library of family genealogy. Hazel lived nearly 100 years.
Hazel was the daughter of R. Earl Harvey and Hilda [Hulda] Marie Larson, and was born in Platte County on the Harvey Slater farm February 12, 1918. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert, and her husband Arnold. She is survived by their two children: son Richard Lyle Bomgardner (Leah) of Billings, MT and daughter Leilani Watt (James), of Jackson Hole and Wickenburg, AZ. Hazel has two widowed sisters, Barbara (Harvey) Jones and Kathleen (Harvey) Hopkins, both living in Cheyenne. From Hazel’s five grandchildren there are twenty-one great grandchildren spanning across the nation to Korea and fourteen great great grandchildren, with nine living nieces and nephews from both Montana and Wyoming.
Hazel lived contentedly twenty years as a widow, her last 17 near Jim and Leilani at My Father’s Retirement Ranch in Wickenburg. Hazel loved sharing a good joke there at mealtime, trimming the Ranch roses, studying her Sunday School lessons, and reading historic novels. She kept her mind active with crossword puzzles; her heart warm by supporting addiction recovery work and foreign missions; and her hands busy with crocheting over 400 items (various afghans, lap robes, helmet liners and stocking caps) which she sent away to friends and family, to the Arizona veteran’s hospital, to service personnel in the Middle East, or to orphaned children in Mexico. As Hazel worked, she named every piece.
Kindness and gratitude matched the twinkle in her eyes. For her last three years, Hazel and Leilani shared together a certain joy, as Hazel’s golden road steepened to an uphill climb toward her heavenly home. At the right time God also sent gracious caregivers to assist them. Hazel reached the summit of her journey in her home February 5, 2018, when she walked off into eternity with Jesus Christ, her Savior. We rejoiced. It was a sunny afternoon.
Memorial services will be held for Hazel (Harvey) Bomgardner at a small family reunion in Cheyenne on Saturday June 23 in the home of her niece, with family members participating and officiating. Cremation was arranged by the Wickenburg Funeral Home. A private interment in Wheatland beside her husband Arnold, will be on a day most precious to Hazel, Monday June 25, 2018.
