Lydia Hofer

Lydia Hofer, 79, of Minneota, MN and formerly of Freeman passed away on January 22nd at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 27th at 10:30 am at the Hutterthal Mennonite Church of rural Freeman. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Thursday at the church.  The service can be livestreamed at: https://youtu.be/aEF2K0EjNQk

Lydia Hofer was born on December 26th, 1943 to Samuel and Elizabeth (Knels) Waldner at Rosedale Colony in Mitchell, SD. She passed away peacefully at Avera Heart Hospital on January 22nd , 2023 with her family by her side.

She resided at Rosedale Colony until she married John Hofer on May 11th, 1965 at Tschetter Colony where they were blessed with six children. She lived in Freeman from 1997 to 2001, where she worked at Fensel’s Greenhouse for several years and enjoyed fellowship at Hutterthal Mennonite Church before moving to Minnesota. There she lived with her brother Sam and his wife Susie and other family. She enjoyed canning apples and tomatoes, helping in the garden, taking care of family and became close to Ryanna, Damian and Skylar.

She was a hardworking wife, mother and grandmother. She loved and cared for the preschool children for fifteen years at Tschetter Colony. Grandma also loved to knit and made numerous slippers for her many children, grandchildren, relatives and friends. She also made homemade lollipops and peanut clusters and would sneak them to her grandchildren and present them as Christmas candy. Numerous hours were spent solving Sudoku puzzles, studying the Bible and reading Christian literature. She loved spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren, who were her heart.

Left to mourn are her children: Lydia (Stuart) Schrag of Freeman; John (Jolene) Hofer of Medical Lake, WA; Betty (late husband Jerry) Decker of Freeman, SD; Reiny Hofer of Freeman, SD; and Sam (Christy) Hofer of Crooks, SD. Grandchildren: Julia (special friend Jeff), Nathan, Nevin, Jenna, Tristan, Dakota, Mercedes and Arielle. Also left to cherish her memory are her brothers and sister.

Lydia was preceded in death by her parents, husband John, son Ronald, son-in-law Jerry, and grandson Sean.