Geneva M. Hofer

Geneva M. Hofer, age 96, of Garretson, passed away on Saturday, August 6, 2011, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will begin at 1:30 P.M. Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at Zion Lutheran Church in Garretson. Visitation with the family present will be from 5-7:00 P.M. Tuesday at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson.

Geneva was born on January 17, 1915, at Garretson, South Dakota, to Ted and Hattie (Stromme) Pederson. She grew up in Garretson and graduated from Garretson High School in 1933. Geneva married Melvin Pederson on June 5, 1934. They moved to Sioux Falls in 1942. Melvin died on June 18, 1954.

On January 11, 1957, she married Elmer Hofer. She worked at John Morrell’s for 21 ½ years until retiring in 1975. Elmer died on June 18, 1978. Geneva moved back to Garretson in 1992. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Garretson and the Garretson Senior Citizens. When she turned 90, Mayor Dave Munson declared it Geneva Hofer Day. She volunteered at McKennan Hospital for 11 years and enjoyed passing her time by knitting; and bowling until she turned 91. In 2009, she was the Grand Marshal of the Jesse James Day Parade during the Garretson All School Reunion.

Grateful for having shared her life are her sons, William “Bud” (Donna) Pederson of Alcester, South Dakota and Robert “Bob” (Linda) Pederson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands and a daughter, Mary Louise Hove.