Josephine Hofer, 87, of Brookings, SD, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, at GracePoint Wesleyan Church in Brookings, SD. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings, SD.
Josephine was born on Sept. 20, 1934, in Doland, SD, to Joe E. and Katie (Tschetter) Hofer. She grew up in Doland and following graduation from Doland High School in 1952, she moved to Huron, SD.
On May 2, 1954, she married the love of her life, Edwin P. Hofer of Hitchcock, SD, at the Hutterthal Mennonite Church in rural Carpenter, SD. They were married for 62 years until Edwin’s death in 2017. Edwin’s work transferred him to Brookings, SD, in 1963 where Josephine continued as a stay-at-home mom until she went to work at the Sears & Roebuck catalog store in Brookings.
She later accepted an office position with Brookings International Life Insurance Company and then worked in the payroll office at South Dakota State University until her retirement in 1991.
An avid sports fan, Josephine delighted in a variety of spectator sports from football, basketball, and track to baseball and rodeos following teams from the Doland Wheelers to the Brookings Bobcats, SDSU Jackrabbits, Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins. She particularly enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren in their school activities. Other favorite pasttimes included reading, needlework, crossword puzzles, and trying new recipes.
Josephine had a strong faith in and love for God. She accepted Jesus Christ as her savior at a young age and taught Sunday school and VBS for many years as well as attended and participated in church activities and weekly Bible study.
She was a member of GracePoint Wesleyan Church and attended the Wesleyan Church in Brookings since 1964.
Survivors include her four children: Roger (Celeste), Rochester, MN, Denise, San Mateo, CA, Sherri, Brookings, SD, and Darwin (Trina), Huron, SD; six grandchildren: Ryan (Mary), Matthew (Emily), Jarrod, Mikaela, Seth (Leah), Noah; four great-grandchildren, Jacob, Hannah, Eleanor, and Chloe; sister Ruby Luce of Groton, SD and brother Jerry (Sally) Hofer of Aberdeen, SD; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband Edwin; her parents; siblings: Violet (Robert) Carrico, Evelyn (Wesley) Hofer, Gladys (Orie) Hofer, and brother-in-law Gene Luce.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
