Hazel Klein, age 93, of Rolla, ND passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at Bay Point Assisted Living in Bremerton, Washington.

Hazel Mae (Hoffman) Klein was born on a farm southwest of Rolette on October 30, 1926. She was the third child of eight born to CK Hoffman and Grace (Lee) Hoffman. The family moved around Rolette County and she attended grade school in Mylo and Dion Lake. She attended high school in St. John and graduated in the class of 1944.

After graduation, she attended Minot Teacher's College and received her teaching certificate. She accepted a job in western North Dakota, but teaching did not suit her. She returned to St. John and worked various jobs in Rolla, riding the train back and forth each day.
While in Rolla, she met Joseph Klein at the local café. They were married on August 21, 1950 and owned and operated Klein's Jewelry in Rolla until they closed the store and retired on Christmas Eve in 1981.

They retired to their lake home on Lake Upsilon and lived there together until Joseph's death in 2005. She continued living there until 2010 when she moved to Park View in Rolla. In 2016 she moved to Bay Pointe Retirement Home in Bremerton, WA to live closer to her family. She remained there until her death on Christmas Eve.

Hazel loved her family and often hosted family gatherings at Lake Upsilon. She was extremely loyal to her brothers and sisters and loved spending time with them and her many nieces and nephews.

Hazel and Joe loved to travel and made trips to Europe, Australia, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii many times. After they retired, they spent the winter months on the west coast with their children, often arriving before Thanksgiving and staying until early March. Hazel was always eager to return home to Lake Upsilon which was her favorite place on earth.

She had many interests and was an excellent cook. One of her loves was watching birds and in 1989 she identified over 120 species and received an award from the State of North Dakota recognizing her accomplishment.

Hazel was also an avid sports fan and especially enjoyed high school basketball and the Minnesota Twins.

Hazel was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Joseph Klein, a daughter Kathleen Klein, her parents, CK and Grace Hoffman, her sisters, Harriet Hoffman and Mary (Hoffman) Prouty, and brothers, Art, John (Jack), and William (Bill) Hoffman.

Hazel is survived by her daughter, Mary Klein of Portland OR; son, Dennis (Linda) Klein of Port Orchard WA; step grandson, Robyn Paul English of Bremerton WA; sister, Ruth Klebe of Yelm WA; brother, Lawrence (Shirley) Hoffman of Rolla; sister in law, Judy Hoffman of Cando; sister in law, Alice (Klein) Lagein of Langdon; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the care givers and health professionals that provided care for her in the last years of her life. The staff at Bay Pointe was exceptional in the final months of her life. Donations in her name should be made to the Audubon Society.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 11:00 AM in St. Joachim Catholic Church, Rolla, ND. Father Thai Arul presiding. Burial will follow in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Rolla, ND.

Elick Funeral Home, Rolla, ND.