Obituary of Lawrence Hasenbalg

Lawrence Dale Hasenbalg, 94, of Byers, Colorado passed away on September 7, 2015 at home on the farm where he has resided since 1949. Lawrence was born July 2, 1921 to Harry and Hazel (Hammel) Hasenbalg in Simla, Colorado. He grew up with three brothers and a sister on a farm north of Simla where his family made a hard living farming their homestead land. Lawrence and his siblings, too poor for a bicycle or wagon, used an old car frame, steered with ropes, to coast down the hills. He attended a one room school at Kuhn's Crossing for grade school. During the winters he arrived at school early to build a fire in the pot -bellied stove so it was warm inside when everyone else arrived; for this work he received a small pittance. Lawrence graduated from Simla High School in 1938. Lawrence met Lois Bennett at a barn dance and they later married in front of the Justice of the Peace in Hugo, Colorado on June 23, 1943. Lois was the absolute love of Lawrence's life and the two were married for over seventy years before Lois died in 2014. Lawrence would tease Lois and say that she was his best hired hand because she was generally at his side no matter what chore he was working at. Accordingly, Lawrence helped Lois in the house and with the kids. The rural life suited Lawrence and he and Lois managed to increase the farm size over the years by just plain hard work, determination, and frugality. Lawrence was one of those men who could fix any broken down piece of equipment, as long as he could find some old part off of another piece of equipment. It would sometimes amaze family members that he could also remember where to find old parts. Lawrence and Lois milked cows, sold chickens and eggs, and raised beef cattle to help make their land payments in the early years. Lawrence managed to continue farming wheat and various other crops into his late 80's—way past the time any of the family thought he should. He and Lois enjoyed square dancing for many years with the Prairie Stars Square Dance Group. They were also involved with the CSU Home Extension program and Lawrence was a member of the Byers School Board for ten years. Mostly, however, Lawrence and Lois were content to be at home together on their farm. Lawrence was preceded in death by his wife, Lois (Bennett) Hasenbalg, his parents, Harry and Hazel (Hammel) Hasenbalg, one sister, Myrtie Mattis; and two brothers, Leroy Gerald and Cecil Bruce. He is survived by his sons, Ron (Ann) Hasenbalg and Tim Hasenbalg; daughters, Arlene (Chester) Vetter and Lynne Peterson, his brother, Ralph David (Rosemary), eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.