Eldon P. Hofer “Al”, at the age of 89 years and 364 days, of Huron, passed away Monday, July 6, 2026, at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls.

His funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Thursday, July 9, at Prairie Bible Church, rural Carpenter. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. His service will be live-streamed.

Visitation was held from 2:00 to 7:00 PM, Wednesday, July 8, at the Kuhler Funeral Home, with family present 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Wednesday, evening.

Eldon P. Hofer was born July 7, 1936, to Paul J.R. and Anna (Tschetter) Hofer, at the family farm near Hitchcock. He was the youngest of seven siblings, Catherine, Anne, John, Paul, Marie, Joe, and Edwin. Eldon joined the South Dakota National Guards and proudly served his country until he was honorably discharged January 1960.

On October 10, 1959, Eldon married the love of his life, Roslyn Tschetter. Together, they had three children, Greg, Kelly (stillborn) and Lori. And although they were married 25 years, it wasn’t long enough. He lovingly cared for Roslyn as she passed away in May 1985, after a short fight with cancer. Eldon was ready to see Roslyn in Heaven and she was waiting for him with many others to help celebrate his 90th birthday. They were active members of Prairie Bible Church (formerly Hutterthal Mennonite Church), where Eldon attended his whole life. They made many memories growing up on the farm together.

On September 12, 1987, Eldon married Bertha Gross. They were married for 28 years. They loved hosting holidays for the family and the grandchildren loved playing on the farm together and eating cottage cheese pockets. Eldon and Bertha moved to Huron in 2003. Eldon cared for Bertha until her passing August 7, 2016.

Eldon loved farming and dedicated his entire life to it. He loved telling farm stories both good and bad, and used that as a way to teach his grandchildren important life lessons. He loved Case IH, red was his favorite color. He always had candy or some sort of treat with him to share. He loved driving his pickup out to the farm or to the colony and bringing goodies back to distribute. Eldon cherished his time at church and listening to the hymns. With a great eighty-nine years of life comes hardships, but his faith and love for the Lord never wavered. He never complained and always had a smile on his face and a joke to share. Eldon never met a stranger, and had a light and energy for making people smile. He had the best smile, a contagious laugh and was a blessing to spend time with.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his two wives, Roslyn and Bertha; one daughter, Kelly; his seven siblings; and his in-laws, George and Sarah Tschetter.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his son, Greg and Lisa Hofer of Hitchcock; his daughter, Lori and Mark Robish of Huron; his grandchildren, Allison Ness, Dwight (Rashelle) Hofer, Ethan (MaClay) Hofer, Erica (Cody) Schilling, Kelsey (Chad) Bade, Mandi (Craig) Holbeck and Damen (Paige) Robish; three sisters-in-law, Roxy Buller of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Donna Hofer of Huron and Ruby Tschetter of Fort Smith, Arkansas and; one brother-in-law, Ree (Rebecca) Tschetter of Warsaw, Indiana; twenty-one great-grandchildren who loved ‘great-pop”, “grandpa donut” and “donut Al”, Ashlynn, Josie, Jessica, Sawyer, Piper, Penny, Walker, Hudson, Houser, Ellsie, Carter, Roslyn, Ellie, Kennedy, Makenna, Jaylen, Hadley, Teagan, Kya, Royce and Reece; many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.