Paul P. Hofer, age 93, of Doland, died Saturday, August 22, 2015, at the Sanford Hospital in Aberdeen. His funeral service was held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, August 26th, at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church with Rev. Gordon Wiebe, officiating. Burial was in the Emmanuel Mennonite Church Cemetery.
Paul P. Hofer was born November 1, 1921, to Peter A. and Anna (Tschetter) Hofer, at rural Doland. He went to grade school in rural Doland, and graduated from Doland High School in 1940. Paul then attended mechanic school in Fargo, North Dakota. He returned to the area and was employed at Urquhart Garage at Huron. He later owned and operated a mechanic shop on his farm.
On January 31, 1943, Paul married Ruth Glanzer at Bethel Church, at rural Yale, South Dakota. The couple farmed alongside each other many years in the Doland area and worked together in their aerial spraying business. As a pilot for over forty years, Paul put in over 12,000 hours of air time, and was a member and past president of the South Dakota Aviation Trade Association.
Paul was a pioneer at new seed technology and was instrumental in bringing winter wheat and sunflowers to eastern South Dakota. He was a member of the South Dakota Crop Improvement Association. In the early 1980s, he traveled with South Dakota State University to behind the Great Wall of China to help educate on the production of wheat. Paul was one of the first in South Dakota to register grand slam of North American wild sheep.
Paul enjoyed farm work, he was an avid hunter, and enjoyed flying. He and Ruth enjoyed their travels to the Orient, South America, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Australia, and Canada. Paul was a member of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church and Lions Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Roger on September 9, 1958; his wife of 71 years, Ruth Hofer on March 6, 2014; three brothers, Harris (Edna) Hofer, Joe Hofer, and Elgin (Esther) Hofer; one sister, Gladys Hofer; one son-in-law, Charlie Wylie; and one niece, Holly Sue Hofer.
Grateful for having shared in his life are his two daughters, Pam (Delwin) Hofer of Carpenter and Mary Ann Wylie of Doland; one son, Todd Paul (Jolyn) Hofer of Doland; six grandchildren, Paul (Kristina) Wylie, Jacob Wylie, Tim Hofer, Amy (Tom) Schoenfelder, Fancy Klover, and Tommy Whitley; two great-granddaughters, Hailey and Hannah Schoenfelder; one brother, DeWayne "Butch" (Karen) Hofer of Tea; one sister-in-law, Delcie Hofer of Huron; and his four legged friend, Tiger Boy.