James Hazlett Seward

1938-2022

On July 13th, 2022 this world lost an artist of many mediums, our very own James Hazlett Seward. James was a painter, a sculptor, violin maker, foundryman, a builder of buildings and a wonderful husband to Mana Lesman Seward since they joined together in the year 2003.

James was born in Minnesota where he joined the Navy at the age of 17. He studied to be a photographer. His training in the Navy eventually prepared him for a life of exceptional experiences, including a long time job held as an optical specialist for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle. He built a bronze foundry in Washington State in the 1980’s, where he poured sculptures for himself as well as other local artists throughout the Northwest and New Mexico. James lived a rich and full life complete with survival training, wilderness awareness, hunting, skiing, climbing mountains, and specializing in shooting firearms competitions. He did reenactment events and was a high virano of the American Mountain Men. James Seward was a proud member of the York Rite through his AF &AM Masonic bodies and became a Knight Templar thusly. He held a dignified position in his Blue Lodge and also became a proud member of the Shriners thereafter.

In 2003, James began painting and proved proficiency in the art and has been exhibited in Billings, MT and surrounding areas. James enjoyed studying and building violins. He learned the craft of making and repairing stringed instruments and subsequently donated many violins to people who otherwise could not have afforded them. One of his gifts was twenty instruments to a group of young people in Tanzania.

Unfortunately, James was hospitalized toward the end of 2020/2021, due to complications from Covid-19. These problems affected James in tragic ways and our community is surely poorer for the loss of his art, knowledge, wisdom, and love. He left behind his loving wife, Mana Lesman; step-granddaughter Asifa Pasin-Welch, husband Ian Welch, and their children.