Hazel Page Spackman

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Hazel Beutler Page Spackman was born on September 2, 1931 in Dayton Idaho to her parents, Walter Beutler and Loverill Kemp. She was loved and adored from her first day on Earth. Her childhood was filled with joy as she played and worked on the family farm alongside her seven siblings. Walter’s hard work and evening hay derrick swings became treasured memories, while Loverill taught Hazel the art of baking, including her famous bread recipe. Her mother made delicious meals for her family and when it was time to eat she would hang a blanket out the upstairs window and Hazel and the others would come running from their work in the fields. One of Hazel’s favorite childhood memories was swimming in the canal with her parents and siblings. 

As a teenager she loved to dance and act in plays. But her biggest interest was boys. When she received her patriarchal blessing it did not mention anything about getting married and she was very sad. Her dad told her that some people flirt enough that they don’t need that in their blessing. And it was true, all the boys sought after her. At the Dayton Ward Christmas Dance in December of 1946, a group of boys drew straws to see who would get the privilege of taking her home. Don Page won and the rest is history.

Their dates consisted of working on each other’s farms side by side, which was their favorite way to do everything. Milking cows and thinning beets, they fell in love. One evening, as he was taking her home from a date, he kept on smiling at her. She said, “A penny for your thoughts?” Don replied, “I was just thinking how much I love you and wondered if you’d marry me.”

They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on September 7, 1950. Don built their first home out of railroad ties. They had almost nothing, but they were happy because they were together. She had a magical ability to make a house into a home no matter what she had to work with. 

Hazel was the mother to 7 children. By all accounts she was the best mom in the world. She was soft and warm, fun and whimsical, and endlessly loving. On their walks home from church while Don stayed behind to fulfill his callings, she danced and sang with her children down the road. They spent many nights in the yard playing Charlie, Charlie Butcher Boy. She would regularly start water fights at the kitchen table over the food that she had prepared from what they grew on the farm. She woke her children in the mornings by jumping on their beds and singing songs. She worked continuously and relentlessly to make every item of clothing, every meal and all the fun for them. She taught them the gospel through fun and creative family home evenings. She had the heart of a mother through and through, and her children were never far from her thoughts. She would often say to them individually, “I was thinking and praying for you in the night and I thought…” and then she would give them the inspiration she had received for them. Her children carry with them profound and lasting evidence of their heavenly parents' love for them, having first experienced it fully and unconditionally through Hazel’s deep affection.

In addition to her own family, she also abundantly shared with neighbors and strangers alike. She opened her home to many people from all over the world. Her house was already too small for her large family, but she just scooted over and made room. Her home expanded to shelter anyone in need and her heart expanded to welcome them into her family. Most notably, Phyllis Begay Bunny joined their family as part of the Native American placement program. Hazel and Don considered her their 6th daughter and she was greatly loved. Years later, her children were considered grandchildren and some of them also came to live with her.

Hazel worked at the USU candy store and she suggested they serve hot bread. They gave her the go ahead and she started baking the bread her mother taught her to make. She baked and sold 260 loaves a day. In her personal history she wrote, “I was so tired, I thought I’d die.” Eventually the shop was renamed Hazel’s. USU became famous for her bread and the lines wound out of the shop and down the hall. 

Throughout her life she served faithfully in the church in any capacity she was asked to, from nursery teacher to Relief Society President, giving each assignment her all. She and Don served a mission to St. Kitts and served in the temple together, still inseparable. 

Don died August 11, 1995. A part of her died that day too. Their love story is one for the ages. For the rest of her life, her grief was made lighter by her faith in Jesus Christ and the sealing ordinance. 

She married Wayne Spackman in 1999. He blessed her life in many ways and they shared several happy years together in Kansas until his death. With her characteristic limitless generosity, she loved his children as her own. 

She was beloved by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a story book grandmother, offering them delicacies such as bread buttered half an inch thick and dipped in buckets full of sugar. If they were at her house, it was a party. Always laughing, talking and joking with them, she loved them and they knew it. 

In her very old age, she no longer made bread. She still tried to teach those in the family who were interested in learning the recipe. But not one of us will ever be able to recreate her masterpiece because she didn’t follow a recipe, it lived inside of her. In the same way, we will strive to serve our families and neighbors as she did. But none of us will be able to weave that special magic through the lives of our loved ones in quite the same way. It was unique to her and cannot be recreated. 

She died peacefully on August 21, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. Although those left behind grieve her absence, we are so happy she is back in Don’s arms once again. 

She truly walked through this life with a loaf of bread in one hand, and a figurative vial of oil in the other, immeasurably blessing every soul who had the privilege of knowing her. 

“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me bread: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Hazel is preceded in death by her parents and 3 sisters. Her husband Don and second husband Wayne, Daughter in law Annette Page, Honorary Daughter Phyllis Bunny, Grandchildren, Clayton Bolander, Stacy and Brett Larsen, Anthony Bunny and Great Grandson, A.J. Gividen. 

She is survived by Her sister Ethel Anderson, Her brothers Laurn Beutler, Henry(Colleen)Beulter Sheldon (Patsy)Beutler her children, LaDawn (Thane)Bolander, Colleen (David)Puett, Sonja (Steve)Larsen, Darris (Dixie)Page, Doyle(Melinda)Page, Loretta (Gene) Dailey, and Janalee (Larry)Shirk. And her 33 grandchildren, 81 great grandchildren with one more on the way, and 3 great great grandchildren, with one more on the way. 

A viewing will be held on Thursday, August 29 from 6-8pm @ Allen-Hall Mortuary (34 East Center Street, Logan)

Funeral services are on Friday, August 30 at 11:00 am with a viewing before 9:30-10:30 (Hillcrest 1st ward building 875 N 1500 E, Logan)

There will be a luncheon following the services and then we’ll travel up to Dayton for the dedication of the grave at 2:30.

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