Lina M. Hazle

Lina Margit Hazle passed away in the home of her daughter, on March 27, 2025, after a long struggle with dementia. She was born on May 10, 1933, in Wild Rose, North Dakota, the youngest (along with her twin sister, Gina) offspring of Norwegian immigrant parents. In the Dustbowl years of the late 1930s, Lina’s family of 9 piled into their Ford Model T and moved west, eventually settling in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Many of Lina’s fondest memories came from her childhood in that small mountain community.

In the post-war years, Lina and Gina became RNs, attending nurse’s training in Spokane, Washington. At a dance at the nearby Air Force base, Lina met her first husband, Joseph Minnich, of Swanton, Ohio, relocating with him to the neighboring city of Toledo. There, she raised her two children and worked at the Toledo Red Cross until she retired.

In 1983, she married Richard Hazle. The pair travelled the world; visiting Europe, South America and the far east in their 40 years together. Additionally, Lina and Richard volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, hosted exchange students from Germany, in conjunction with the University of Toledo and celebrated their shared Norwegian heritage at the Scandinavian Club. Lina also volunteered at a domestic abuse shelter.

Lina loved sports, especially baseball and hockey, holding season tickets for the Mudhens and Walleye, well into her 80s. A devout Lutheran, Lina attended St. Paul’s downtown, Epiphany Lutheran, as well as Trinity Lutheran, where she volunteered at the school lunch program for many years. She was also an avid cat lover.

Lina is survived by her son, Christopher Minnich, of Asheville, NC and his wife Amber; her daughter, Susan Duran; her grandson, Jesse-Jaymz Duran, both of Toledo. She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard, her 6 siblings; her daughter-in-law, Michelle and son-in-law, Jim.

The family asks that any tributes be directed to Toledo Area feline charities such as the Paws and Whiskers Cat Shelter or (419) Orphan Kitten Club.