Paul M. Hofer: 1931-2022
Paul M. Hofer, age 91, of Doland, S.D., passed away Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, at the Huron Regional Medical Center.
His funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 5 at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, rural Doland. Burial will be in the church cemetery. His service will be livestreamed through the Kuhler Funeral Home website.
A visitation is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 4 at Kuhler Funeral Home, Huron, S.D.
Paul Marvin Hofer was born on June 28, 1931, in Fairfield Township, Beadle County, S.D., the son of John J.B. and Katherine (Kleinsasser) Hofer. At the age of four, his family moved to a home on the north edge of Dolton, where he attended school through the eighth grade. When he was 12 years old, upon confession of his faith in Jesus Christ, he was baptized by his uncle Reverend Jacob B. Hofer and became a member of Hutterthal Mennonite Church, rural Freeman, S.D. His high school years were spent at Freeman Academy where he graduated with the Class of 1949. After one year of college in Freeman, he received his teaching certification and taught rural school for three years in the Freeman area.
On June 21, 1953, Paul married LuAnn Norma Hofer of Doland at Hutterthal Mennonite Church rural Freeman. Paul and LuAnn made their home in Denver, Colo., for two years while Paul fulfilled his alternative service at Mercy Hospital.
In 1955, Paul and LuAnn moved back to South Dakota and began his farming career. For many years he operated a custom harvesting operation building many lasting friendships with his customers.
Paul was an active member of Emmanuel Mennonite Church, rural Doland, where he served in various capacities including Sunday school teacher, church board and sang in the choir. He served on the township board at the local and state level, was a member of the U.S. Custom Harvesters Association and a member of Gideons International. For 16 years, Paul and LuAnn enjoyed wintering in Edinburg, Texas, serving as volunteer winter workers at Rio Grande Bible College.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Katherine; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Enoch and Nora Hofer; his siblings, Katherine (Bob) Megard, John (Gladys) Hofer, Arnold Hofer, Theodore Hofer and Samuel (Joyce) Hofer; and many other relatives and friends.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of nearly 70 years, LuAnn Hofer of Doland; his children, Stuart (Ranae) Hofer of Rapid City, S.D., Perry Hofer of Doland, Kevin Hofer (Jane Coats) of Doland, Gayle (Gerald) Schied of Huron and Doyle Hofer of Owatonna, Minn.; his grandchildren: Garrett (Sarah) Hofer of Sioux Falls, S.D., Brittnay (Alex) Casetta of Greeley, Colo., Tara (Evan McPhail) Hofer of Papillion, Neb., Nikolas (Amy) Hofer of Doland, Bryant Hofer of Doland, Mikel (Jackie) Hofer of Doland, Matthew Hofer of Doland, Jonathan Schied (Melissa Pell) of Huron, Anthony Schied (Kaycee Sorenson) of Huron, Benjamin Schied (Elizabeth Murphree) of Huron and Adam Schied (Nikki Swartz) of Huron; 13 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Naomi Hofer of Marion, S.D.; and several nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
