Mary Hofer

After an extended period of declining health, Mary (Mrs. Verlyn) Hofer was granted eternal peace with her Lord and Savior on January 21, 2024. A resident of Lennox for almost seven decades, Mary, with her husband, resided at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls the past 7 years. Mary Ann Ness was born on May 10, 1928, on a farm south of Worthing.She was the eleventh of 15 children born to Carl and Rose(Christiansen) Ness, and was preceded in death by all of her siblings.Growing up on the farm, she attended Nelson Rural School and graduated from Lennox High School in 1946. Mary was employed in Sioux Falls for two years before her marriage to Verlyn Hofer on June 10, 1948. The newlyweds established their home in Lennox and began their long association with the family newspaper and printing enterprise. In addition to her duties as a homemaker and mother of four, Mary served as bookkeeper and performed many other weekly tasks at the local newspaper office for over 30 years but never shirked her family duties at home. She also opened her home to members of her extended family, providing, at various times, a home for three nephews who had lost parents. Mary was an active member of her church, having taught Sunday school and participating in many activities of the church women's groups over the years. She was an accomplished seamstress and she enjoyed sewing and quilting at church and at home. She attended countless school activities in which her children participated. Mary was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and did volunteer work for the American Cancer Society. Adding joy and activity to Mary's life were her 13 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. In retirement years, Mary enjoyed traveling to distant places with her husband Mary was preceded in death by her son David on January 13, 2007; her parents; her ten brothers: Merlin, Omar, Lloyd, Vernon, Dale, Howard, Carl Jr., Arnold, John, Marlo; her four sisters: Mildred Frances, Ardis Lamis, Mildred Rose Ribardo, Shirley; and many more relatives and in-laws. Among Mary's survivors whose lives she enriched are her husband of over 75 years; three children: Douglas (Carolyn) of Pierre, William (Holly) of Sioux Falls, and Rebecca (David) Wensink of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin; 13 grandchildren: Laurie (Derrick) Yeager, Jon (Michelle) Hofer, Rachel Brice, Jordan (Keeyane) Hofer, Tommy (Kia) Hofer, Jaime (Marlon) Lobban, Mitchell (Anne) Hofer, Michael Hofer, Mariah (Adam) Weber, Zach (Rachel) Wensink, Sam (Sarah) Wensink, Emily (Jonathan) Gabrielse, and Josh Wensink; 26 great-grandchildren; her daughter-in-law Rhonda Hofer Arens of Crofton, NE, as well as many other relatives and friends. Services will begin at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 26 at First English Lutheran Church, Lennox, with burial to follow in the Lennox Cemetery. Visitation, with the family present will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thusday, January 25, the Dow Rummel Chapel 1321 W Dow Rummel St, Sioux Falls, with a prayer service and sharing time at 6:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred directed to Union Gospel Mission or First English Lutheran Church, Lennox or Lennox Area Community Fund.

Mary Hofer

May 10, 1928 - January 21, 2024

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