She was born April 1, 1917 in Carter County, 18 miles south of Ekalaka. She moved to Baker at a young age with her family. Her father was John William Pearl Hufford and her mother was Susan Frances Tuckness Hufford. She attended schools in Carter County and finished in Baker. She married Jack G. “Bud” Plummer on December 1, 1934. Jack died in 1993.

She was later married to John B. “Jack” Bethel on August 22, 1959. They lived in a big white house at 101 N Main St. Along with raising the kids, she worked at Super Value in Baker as a cashier. She also worked for Ida Mae Sleeth at the local truck stop.

She had 6 children, but only 1 daughter and 2 sons are still alive. Her daughter Kay Widdicombe lives in Colstip, Montana, her son David (Eleanor) Plummer moved lives in Sydney, Nebraska, and her son Charles Bethel lives in Helena, Montana. Her dad died in 1938 and her mom died in 1960. Three of her sons, Gene, Monte, and Bob Plummer died before her. Four brothers, Wally, Red, Bud, and Bunny, and two sisters, Mary Reynolds and Bev Botsford died before she did. Her great-grandson, Derrick Rissmann, died before she did.

Hazel Hufford had many interesting pieces to her life. The Ekalaka Eagle says that Hazel Hufford was in Baker and had her tonsils removed on September 06, 1928. She recovered nicely. Hazel and Beulah sang “Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us” at the wedding of Ralph Parks and Rosalind Seeman. The Ekalaka Eagle says that Miss Doris Sandon and Hazel Hufford called on Mr. and Mrs. Van Moore and R. O. McLane one Saturday afternoon in March, 1927. The Ekalaka Eagle also says that Miss Lucile Miles, Dorothy and Doris Slandon, and Hazel Hufford called at the home of the Lantis girls out at the sawmill.

Hazel and John spent many happy years together. John died in 1997. They enjoyed camping and traveling throughout the country. Hazel also enjoyed crocheting afghans for her grandchildren. She died March 28, 2007. She is buried in the Bonnievale Cemetery in Baker, Montana.

I, Shianne Beach, am writing this as Hazel Hufford’s great-great-niece. Huffords have been here since her parents got here.