Ben F. Hofer, age 91, of Huron, passed away Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at the Violet Tschetter Memorial Home. His funeral service was held at 11:00 AM Saturday, May 5th, at Bethesda Church. Burial was in the Bethel Mennonite Brethren Church Cemetery.
Memorials to James Valley Christian School elementary technology upgrades, Bethel Church sound treatment in the fellowship hall and Bethesda Church Awana Program.
Ben Frank Hofer was born on the family farm in Milford township, Beadle County, South Dakota, on August 16, 1926, to Josua and Anna Hofer. He was to be named Benjamin Franklin Hofer.However, when Josua went to the courthouse to register the birth, he didn't know how to spell that long of a name, so shortened his son's name to Ben Frank Hofer.
Ben worked on the farm all his growing up years. He remembered digging potatoes with his sister.One day a small cloud came up, bringing thunder and lightning. Out in the field, Ben's Uncle John and the horses were struck by lightning and killed. Ben was 10 years old.
Another story about Ben and horses happened when Ben was about 4 or 5 years old. It was threshing time, and during the night Anna heard crying coming from outside. She went out to look and found Ben under the hay rack. The horses had been tied around it to feed for the night.He had somehow safely maneuvered between the horses to get under the hay rack, but could not get out.
And yet another horse story happened after Ben and Elsie were married. Ben started out farming with horses. He was working the field across the road from the farm when the horses got away from him and ran back across the road to the farm. They were stopped when they ran into the outhouse. The outhouse was knocked over and one the horses was laid over on its side. Elsie had just exited the outhouse and was worried that Ben was under that horse! He wasn't and came walking into the yard later.
While growing up, Ben and other boys trapped animals to earn spending money. One particular animal they trapped were skunks.Ben later wondered how they must have smelled at school after going straight to school from checking their traps.
Ben spent his first eight years of education at the Jefferson School in Milford township, which was across the corner from the family farm, and Sunflower School. He went on to attend two years of Yale High School before dropping out his junior year.Later, when telephone surveys would call and one of the questions asked was where he had last attended school, he truthfully told them, "Yale."
Ben's family did not attend church during his younger years. He spent much of his growing up time with his dad in the local pool hall. When they did attend church, it was at Bethel Church just down the road. Even though Josua was not a believer, he did take his family to revival meetings so that they could hear about Jesus and the gospel message of salvation.
At the age of 16, in April of 1942, Ben accepted Jesus as his Savior. Many times he recounted that this was the best decision he had made in his life. In August of that same year he was baptised uponconfession of his faith and became a member of Bethel Church.After becoming a Christian, Ben knew that he needed to break from the crowd that he ran with. He was able to form a common bond with other young people who had received Christ at the same time that he had accepted Christ's gift of salvation.
Ben's parents, Josua and Anna, became Christians in the spring of 1945. Ben's paternal grandmother, Mrs. Joshua M. Hofer was a praying woman. She had prayed much for her wayward son Josua and his family. Ben believed that God answered her prayers.Josua and all his family became Christians.
Ben met Elsie Waldner at a school carnival in Yale where he picked confetti up off the floor and threw it at her. A few years later Ben began to travel to the Waldner farm north of Carpenter to see Elsie.Since it was war time and tires and gas were rationed, the Hofer family had only one old car to drive. Sometimes Ben had to take his folks home before taking Elsie home.The passenger door didn't always latch well and Anna would tell Elsie to scoot over so that she wouldn't accidently fall out of the car. Ben's sister Goldie made sure to check the mileage before and after Ben took the vehicle to see Elsie and left the mileage on the seat so that their dad would see it.
Ben and Elsie set their wedding date for the 4th Sunday in June of 1946. Ben said that he had to give Elsie a diamond so that he would get the same girl every time, since there were so many girls in the Martin Waldner family.
Before the wedding could happen, Elsie was involved in a car accident and was seriously injured. Ben never forgot the Monday night when Goldie woke him at 11 PM to tell him about the accident.Ben got up and went to the hospital to see Elsie. She opened her eyes and said, "Ben, I'm dying."Happily, Elsie did live.
During Elsie's recovery, people came to Ben and his parents and questioned the wisdom of marrying a girl who had been so badly hurt. But Ben had made a commitment to Elsie, and they were married on December 1, 1946.
Ben and Elsie began farming on a section of land in Spink County. Josua had made the down payment and then told Ben he was on his own for the rest of the payments. There was no electricity on the farm or running water.Ben rigged up a line from the well to a tank in the house that was pumped full when the windmill turned. Elsie had running water in the house from the tank.
When Ben and Elsie began their farming, they made a commitment to the Lord to be good stewards in their farming. Giving to the church and missions was important to them.
Ben and Elsie hosted many people in their home over the years. Church conference guests, missionaries, family and friends were always welcomed.
Ben was involved in church, community and church conference boards on the district and national level. Ben served on the state weed board for six years, Mennonite Aid Property Board for fifteen years, and Yale Co-op board for 22 years. Ben counted it a privilege to have accomplished good with the farm and church.
Darla and Harold came to the farm in the summer of 1995. Ben and Elsie moved to Huron, and Ben became a member of the Huron Chamber of Commerce where he served on the Ag Committee.
In the fall of 1999, Elsie was not feeling well and was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 2000. Ben lovingly took care of her until she passed away in May of 2000.
Ben and Agnes Glanzer Waldner were married on March 16, 2002. Agnes was Ben's widowed sister-in-law.Their children were first cousins and now were siblings. Ben and Agnes took them on a bus trip to Branson, MO, where a great time was had by all.
Agnes has been a wonderful wife and companion to Ben these last sixteen years.
Thank you, Agnes, for all you have done for Ben and his family.
Ben went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 2, 2018, at the age of 91 years, 8 months and 14 days. He was a farmer, rancher and ag businessman.Most importantly he was a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He prayed faithly for his family and others every day.He would often look at pictures of his family and tell Agnes and others, "There isn't a rebel in the bunch." His grandmother's prayers have been answered down into succeeding generations.When asked, "How does it feel to be rich?" Ben replied that he was indeed a very wealthy man. He went on to explain that all of his children, their spouses and grandchildren knew Jesus as their personal Savior and were following the Lord in their lives.That made him the richest man around.
Ben was preceded in death by his first wife of 52 years, Elsie, his parents Josua and Anna Hofer, his sisters Mary Wollman, Ida (Jimmy) Hohm, Goldie (Palmer) Wedel, a son-in-law Dale Winter, a grandson David Winter, Elsie's six sisters and their spouses Anna (Edwin) Hofer, Katy (Elard) Glanzer, Lydia (Gary) Hofer, Evelyn (Pete) Decker, Esther (Elgin) Hofer, Adena (Gene) Tschetter and her three brothers Martin Waldner, Jacob Waldner and Mike Waldner.
Grateful for sharing Ben's life are his family and stepfamily. His wife Agnes,his son Lowell (Nancy) Hofer, his daughters Darla (Harold) Loewen and Rachel Winter. His stepsons Darlo Waldner, Galen (Kim) Waldner, Chad (Cindy) Waldner and stepdaughter Loretha (Dennis) Weber. His grandchildren Joshua (Jessy) Hofer, Titus (Alisha) Hofer, Roman (Rebecca) Hofer, Scott (Erna) Loewen, Lisa (Jeff) Kroeker and Erin Winter. Great-grandchildren Amelia, Samuel, Arya, Isaiah, Mirriam, Hadassah Hofer and Nathaniel and Elinor Kroeker. His brother-in-law Sam Wollman.
As children and grandchildren, we are grateful to faithful employees on the farm Alvin Pullman, Alan Decker, Glenn Hines and Roy Kassel. The families of Glenn and Roy are considered grandchildren to Ben.
We are also grateful for the staff at Stoneybrook Assisted Living and Violet Tschetter Memorial Home for the kindness and care given to Ben.
Ben will be missed by his family and many friends that he made in his 91 years. But we can say with certainty that he was greeted in heaven by those who have gone before him, some of whom are there because Ben prayed for them and gave to the Lord.