Jack Edward Hoffman

Jack Edward Hoffman, 91, died Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, Mont.

His cause of death was due to complications from a stroke. Jack's funeral service will be 11 a.m., Wednesday Oct. 6, 2010, at Hillcrest Mausoleum Chapel in Great Falls, Mont., with entombment to follow. A fellowship will be held at his daughter Terry's home immediately following the service. Memorial contributions in Jack's honor may be made to the Benefis Peace Hospice House, c/o Benefis Foundation, P.O. Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59401, or to a memorial of one's choice. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home of Havre.

Jack was born Sept. 11, 1919, in Sheridan, Wyo., to Emil and Dora (Haywood) Hoffman. He was born at his aunt's home in Sheridan, and when he was 2 days old, he traveled to Great Falls, Mont., with his mother. He was raised and educated in Great Falls, graduating from Great Falls High School in 1938. Two weeks after he graduated from high school, Jack went to work for the Mountain Bell Phone Co. He met Mary Liz Hennessy in Great Falls, and the couple dated for a few years. Jack proposed to Mary Liz before he left for the war. He was drafted into the United States Army, the second draft out of Great Falls. Ninety-three people were drafted into the Army in that draft. He served five years in the Army and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., Fort Knox, Ky., the southern Philippines, New Guinea, Luzon and Japan.

He married Mary Liz Hennessy Feb. 16, 1943, in Tampa, Fla. Mary Liz returned to Conrad, Mont., and lived with her parents until Jack returned from the war.

He was honorably discharged in 1946 as a captain in the United States Army. Jack returned to work for the Mountain Bell Phone Company. He was promoted to manager of Mountain Bell Phone Company in Cut Bank, Mont., in 1967. He worked in Cut Bank until he retired in 1981. He worked for Mountain Bell for 43 years. The couple raised three children, Pat, Terry and Mary Kay.

Jack enjoyed woodworking, golfing, hunting, fishing and playing cards. He was a "jack of all trades," and there wasn't anything he couldn't make out of wood or fix. Jack was very active as a Boy Scout leader, served as president of the Great Falls Central Round Table, member of the Great Falls Planning Board, Toastmasters, member of the Meadowlark Country Club and St. Gerard's Catholic Church. He was past president of the Cut Bank Chamber of Commerce, and was a member and past president of the Cut Bank Golf Club. He served as the manager of the Golf Club for three years after he retired from the phone company, served on the board of the Memorial Clinic and was a member of St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Cut Bank. After Jack retired he and Mary Liz began traveling and wintering in Arizona. They moved to Sun City, Arizona permanently in 2000. In Arizona, Jack was a member and served as president of the Lake View Wood Shop for 5 years. He worked with the Habitat For Humanity and was president of the Sun City Montana Club for several years.

Jack moved back to Great Falls in 2006 to be closer to family. He enjoyed meeting his coffee group in the mornings at McDonalds and always had something to share with his friends there.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 61 years, Mary Liz Hoffman, in January 2004; his brother, James Hoffman, in 2002; and his parents.

Jack is survived by his three children, Patrick (Karen) Hoffman of Havre, Mont., Terry (Jerry) Fish of Great Falls, Mont., and Mary Kay (Marty) Olson of Cut Bank, Mont.; six grandchildren, Travis Fish of Phoenix, Ariz., Jennifer (Dustin) Kinsella of Havre, Mont., Jill (Brent) Reber of Havre, Mont., Justin Fish of Phoenix, Ariz., Ryan Olson of Cut Bank, Mont., and Lindsay (Kenny) Buhler of Corvallis, Mont.; seven great-grandchildren, Lane, Logan and Landon Kinsella, Shea and Madison Reber, and Hannah and Hogan Buhler; his sister, Betty Bye of Mesa, Ariz.; his sister and brother-in-law, Bob and Pat Holmstrom of Billings, Mont.; and several nieces and nephews.