Henry Hoff

Henry Hoff age 97 of Bison, died Tuesday May 19th, 2009 at the Dorsett Regional Senior Care Center in Spearfish. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 2pm Friday May 29th, 2009 at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Bison with Father John Lule and Father Arnie Kari officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Bison Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Henry Hoff was born May 5th, 1912, near Eureka, SD. He was one of 18 children born to John and Fredricka (Holzworth) Hoff. When Henry was in his teens, his family moved to Bison, where they first lived in town and later moved to a farm west and south of Bison. Henry attended Bison High School, where he was valedictorian of his class. In the words of John Penor - Bison’s longest and biggest basketball fan - Henry was probably the best basketball player to ever play for Bison High School. Henry met the love of his life, Ava Marie Jacobs, while working in North Dakota. They were married, and shortly after the birth of their daughter, Sandra, moved to Bremerton, WA, to work for the war effort. Henry worked on battleships and Ava was a chauffer for military brass. They enjoyed life in their home overlooking Puget Sound. After the war, the family of 3 moved back to the Bison area, where Henry began doing what he loved most – farming. Henry’s father-in-law, Clarence Jacobs, gave Henry and Ava a few commercial Angus cows, and from these modest beginnings, they developed an efficient and thriving farming and ranching operation. Only a few years after their move back to Bison, their son, Doug, was born. Henry was never a “slacker” and worked long, hard hours for his family, community and business. He served on many local boards and was the chairman of the SD Angus Association, where he was named “Breeder of the Year”. He was a member of the Lutheran Church in Bison, but after 65 years of persuasion, Ava finally convinced him to take Catholic classes and join her church. Henry was then 90, and so probably holds the record for being the oldest Lutheran to ever join the Catholic Church! Henry’s wife, Ava, went to her heavenly home in 2004. Soon afterward, Henry moved to Spearfish and rented an apartment there. His smile was contagious and everyone there instantly loved him. His son Doug and daughter in law Molly later moved to Spearfish so that they could enjoy and care for Henry and Molly’s mom Addie, who lived in the same apartment building as Henry. Henry had a very serious stroke in March of 2009 and after hospitalization, he moved to the David M. Dorsett Regional Senior Care facility. His famous smile followed him there, and although he could and should have been depressed, mad, or grumbling, he instead chose to greet everyone with a smile and a friendly hello. The nurses there called him “g-pa Henry” and many gave him the ultimate complement by saying that he reminded them of their dad. Henry is survived by his daughter Sandra and her husband John Larson; their son Ian Larson, and their daughter and son in law Jessica and Rich Wilder; his son and son’s wife Doug and Molly; their son Brian Hoff, his wife Sherri, and their daughters Brianna and Anari; their daughter Andrea and her husband Aaron Ambur, and their children Aubrey and AJ; his brother and sisters Albert, Carl, Hilda, Alma and Alice; his many nephews and nieces, and his numerous friends. Henry was truly a hard working, honest, and compassionate man. He will be missed by all on earth but will be welcomed by all in heaven.