Obit: Hoffman, Loretta (1911 - 2000)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: HOFFMAN HARDING WAKEFIELD CRAEMER

----Source: Stanley Republic, February 3, 2000

LORETTA HOFFMAN (1911 - 2000)

Loretta Mae HOFFMAN, 88, entered into eternal life January 28, 2000, at Victory Medical Center in Stanley.

Miss HOFFMAN was born August 19, 1911, to Charles and Catherine (HARDING) HOFFMAN in Stanley. She graduated from St. Anne's Grade School and Stanley High School.

She received her bachelor of science degree from Eau Claire Teachers College. She taught in rural schools and in St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN. She received a scholarship to study for a certification in education of the deaf and graduated from the University of Michigan with a master of arts degree. She attended various summer schools for other certifications in library media, reading specialty, deaf education speech, brain damage and special learning disabilities. Those credits were from Wayne University in Detroit, MI, the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Michigan. She also attended the Minneapolis School of Art. Because of her teaching ability, a St. Paul newspaper headed a front-page article and picture entitled "Kids Eat Up School Work." She was then asked to teach in Minneapolis, which she did until her retirement.

In the early days, when the Minneapolis teachers were being organized into a union, she was very active in the grass roots movement to promote teachers' salaries and better working conditions. She was proud of being a union supporter.

Miss HOFFMAN was a dedicated teacher and enjoyed helping students. She will be sadly missed by teachers, students, friends and family.

It should be noted that Loretta passed away on the feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas, the patron saint of teachers.

She is survived by two sisters, Victoria WAKEFIELD of Devil's Lake, SD, and Mary Ann CRAEMER of Eau Claire, and two brothers, Herman HOFFMAN of Stanley and Henry HOFFMAN of Devil's Lake, SD.

She is preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Wilbur and Charles HOFFMAN.

Funeral services were Tuesday, February 2, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Stanley. Father Robert Nelson officiated. Family members served as pallbearers. Interment was in Holy Family Cemetery.

Plombon Funeral Home of Stanley was in charge of the arrangements.