Mary Hardy

Mary Ann Hardy (Mitzie) was born to Anton and Mary Pirtz on September 13, 1923, in Roundup Montana where her father and brothers worked in the coal mines. In 1936 she and the family moved to Billings to join her mother, who had come a year earlier to buy and operate the Rainbow Bar. She and her sister Vi attended Billings Senior High School while they shared each other's sweaters and competed for boyfriends. She graduated in 1942, but not before meeting the love of her life, Giles Hardy. They married on February 15, 1942, and started their family.

At the time of Mitzie's passing our family matriarch left a legacy of 7 children, 26 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren.

Several years after Giles' passing in 1970, Mitzie went to work for the Billings Public School District where she worked for 20 years as a bus aide. Here she shared her love of children with hundreds of kids who rode with her.

Mitzie challenged herself to walk several miles a day saying that it kept her young. She loved traveling and vacationing with her family. We were constantly amazed by her courage and willingness to try anything. Her adventures led her to water park slides in Denver, snorkeling and zip lining in Hawaii, lots of rides at Disneyland and even parasailing off the beach in Mexico at 90 years young. Her favorite things in this world were her family, babies, chocolates, and polka dancing.

She is preceded in death by her parents Anton and Mary Pirtz, husband Giles Hardy, sister, Violet Cooke, brothers Tiny Pirtz, Tony Pirtz, Joseph Pirtz, Matt Pirtz, and her son Rod Hardy.

She is survived by six children, Sandy Sherman, Dave Hardy (Joan), Mike Hardy (Mike McNeill), Doug Hardy (Lori), Kim Golini (Jeff), and Tina Barber (Scott Leonard).

A viewing will be held at Dahl Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, September 17, at 6:00 pm and her funeral is at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church on Wednesday 18th at 11:00 am. The reception location is pending.