Hazel Ruth Elizabeth Forsmoe, 1922 - 2018

FORSMOE, ENGLER, HUFFMAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/17/2018 at 09:29:42

Sioux City Journal
17 April 2018

Sioux City

Hazel Ruth Elizabeth Forsmoe, 96, of Sioux City, passed away Sunday, April 8, 2018, peacefully at a local care facility.

Graveside services will be noon today in Logan Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sergeant Bluff.

She was born on March 22, 1922, in Sioux City, the daughter of John Thomas Leonard and Martha Jane (Engler) Huffman. She lived in Sioux City all of her life. She attended Cooper, Hopkins, East Junior and Woodrow Wilson and graduated from Sioux City Central High.

She married Darrel LaValle Forsmoe in 1940 in Ponca, Neb. To this union was born, Sharon Lee and Dale Candice.

She worked as the bookkeeper for her husband's business, Gaines Awning Company. After Darrel's death at age 51, she continued working at various jobs including at the Sioux City Public Library delivering books to shut-ins, the Social Security Office as a clerk, and doing grocery store food demo/sampling on weekends. She worked as a food sampler for more than 20 years at the Morningside Hy-Vee Store. She loved her customers and always had a smile and a chunk of something yummy for them to try.

She was an excellent cook, hostess, artist and seamstress, using her skills making costumes for her daughters' dance recitals and designing and constructing various set items for the Holiday on Ice. No one set a more beautiful table with perfect china and extra tablescapes. Granny was interested in genealogy and searched for many years for family heritage. Her ease of meeting with new people and outgoing persona were utilized in PR for the Sioux City Auditorium. Hazel and her pal, Robert Anderson, made many trips to South Dakota to gamble and haunted the thrift stores.

Hazel will be remembered as a strong, domineering lady and was somewhat of a stage mother to her daughter, Sharon Farrell. She traveled regularly visiting California, Fiji, and the east coast. Her grandchildren admired her snappy wardrobe and borrowed clothes from her to wear themselves. She had natural red, super curly hair. She will be missed.

Hazel is survived by her daughters, Sharon Farrell of Topanga Canyon, Calif., and Dale Candice Lambly of Delaware; four grandchildren, Carrie Jane Bernard-Smith (Gordon) of Golden-Lakewood, Colo., Jeannie Elizabeth Bernard-Frock of Felton, Del., Jennifer Diane Bernard-Greene (Dr. Nigel Greene), and Chance Forthman Boyer of Costa Mesa, Calif.; four great-grandchildren, Anna Joclyn Mason-Henderson of Fredericksburg, Va., Dixie Jane Strange of Denver, Annie Rae Strange of Lakewood, Colo., and USAF Captain Holly Marie Schlotfeldt (Roemen) of Minot, N.D.; one great-great-grandchild, Wayde Boyer of Costa Mesa, Calif.; and cousins, Susan and Roger Monk, have been very helpful in this long ordeal, Pam Tettinger, visiting regularly was wonderful and Carrie Jane Bernard-Smith lending her assistance, love and devotion, was instrumental in her care and was in charge of all aspects of her granny's concerns.

Granny was preceded in death by her parents; husband; siblings, Helen Huffman-Greene, Frank and Leo Huffman, and Meokla Kirby; best friend, former Sioux City Police Officer, Robert Anderson. Bob's cremated remains will be placed with her.