Otto  Hoff

CLERGY
Rev. Greg Way
MUSIC
Organist ~ Marlene Wuertzer
Soloist ~ Lennis Mehlhaff
Congregational Hymns
“Eternal Father, Strong to Save”
“How Great Thou Art”
CASKETBEARERS
Myron Stoebner
Robert Pietz
Jerry Stoebner
William Breitbach
Carol Neugebauer
LaVern Hoff
Charles Hoff
Joel Boehmer
Otto Hoff  was born on Monday, October 1, 1917 to Henry J. and Lydia (Stoebner) Hoff on a farm located 1½ miles east of Beardsley, South Dakota. He was baptized on November 25, 1917 and confirmed on June 22, 1930, both by Rev. W.J. Krieger. He attended Lakeside Country School through the 8th grade. After that, he helped on the family farm along with helping his mother’s relatives with threshing and corn picking in North Dakota and Minnesota. Otto entered the United States Army on February 13, 1942 and was officially discharged on October 10, 1945, having spent most of his military time in Honolulu, Hawaii at Pearl Harbor. While in Honolulu, his spare time was spent with Ruben and Esther Hieb. After returning home from his service with the Army, Otto farmed with his brother Bill and his sisters Emma and Sophia. Otto was united in marriage to Loretta Schnell by the Rev. M.F. Amelung in Parkston on February 8, 1947. To this union Otto and Loretta were blessed with a son, Robert.
Otto farmed until he retired in 1983, after the death of his brother Bill. Otto and Loretta moved to Tripp and Otto worked for the Tripp Livestock Market from 1984 to 1999. Along with this, he would help his son Robert with lawn work and other tasks.
Otto was a member of Frieden’s Reformed Church, where he served as a Deacon on the Consistory for six years. Otto was a member of the Jelkin-Harms American Legion Post of Tripp for 65 years, serving with the Firing Squad from 1946 to 1998. He was a member of the Unger-Fergen V.F.W. Post of Parkston  for over 60 years. He served on the School board of Union District #77 country school. He also served as a board member of the Tripp Farmer’s Union for 15 years. Otto was on the Hutchinson County ASCS Committee and served as a precinct committeeman for the Republican Party of Hutchinson County.
Otto had an avid interest in sports. He especially enjoyed following the Chicago CUBS. He enjoyed playing cards and he and his son, Robert would enjoy playing a game of Rummy or Pinochle every evening.
Otto entered the Tripp Good Samaritan Center on September 23, 2005. After the ice storm in November 2005, he entered the Assisted Living section of TGSC and lived there until his death.
Otto passed away on Friday, April 10, 2009 at the Avera St. Benedict Health Center in Parkston at the age of 91 years, 6 months and 9 days.
Otto is survived by his son, Robert of Tripp; three sisters: Sophia and Emma Hoff of Tripp and Lenora (Patrick) Boehmer of Parkston; three sisters-in-law: Althea Mehlhaff of Tripp, Beryle Schnell of Springfield, Oregon and Rita Hoff of Tripp.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Loretta, in January 2001; his parents, and four brothers: Theodore, Heirounemous, Albert and William.