Duane Allen Hazen, 59, left his Fort Benton home to enter the Gates of Heaven on November 10, 2017 due to natural causes. A celebration of his life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, November 18th at the Benton Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Carl Rogers officiating. Burial will be held at the Riverside Cemetery with a fellowship for family and friends to follow at the Montana Agricultural Center. Memorial contributions in Duane's honor may be made to support his grandson, Kenny's, fight against brain cancer at https://www.youcaring.com/kenneth-watt-584516 or to the Belt Community Church. You may visit Duane's online memorial page at www.bentonfh.com to leave a message of condolence for his family.

Duane was born June 12, 1958 in Great Falls, Montana to Dan and Maxine (Hildebrand) Hazen. He was the middle of three children. Duane always said that he grew up as a normal farm kid working in the fields at the young age of 8 and being brought up in the Christian faith, attending the Belt Community Church. He graced the halls of Highwood Schools in Highwood, Montana and graduated from Highwood High School in 1976 as Valedictorian. He transitioned from Mountaineer to Bobcat at Montana State University where he received a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering and graduated with honors. He continued his education at the University of Colorado where he graduated in 1989 with his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Duane worked for the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as an Electronic Engineer, where he was responsible for data quality control. He retired in 2014 and moved back to Montana to be closer to his family. He continued working for Colorado, University on a biannual contract traveling to Greenland to maintain the NOAA equipment.

He married Verdeda Rae Watt-Hazen in 1990 and became a second father her twin children Justin and Alisha. The couple later divorced, but the children remained a part of Duane's life and a source of great pride and joy.

Duane enjoyed the outdoors and taking photographs of everything he saw. He enjoyed hunting and fishing trips, and exploring new places. He was an avid sports fan and traveled all over Chouteau County to watch the sporting activities of the Fort Benton Longhorns, and the Highwood-Geraldine Rivals.

Duane is now walking the streets of gold with his father Dan Hazen (1988) and his sister Joan O'Brien (2011).

Duane will be ready to greet many friends and family at the Pearly Gates, including his mother Maxine Hazen of Highwood, Montana, two step-children: Justin & Joanne Watt of Cheyenne, WY and Alisha Watt of Pierce, Colorado, one sister Arlene & Michael Hartman of Highwood, five Grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.