Jack Edward Hoffman

HAVRE - Jack Edward Hoffman, 91, of Great Falls, died of complications from a stroke Friday at Peace Hospice in Great Falls.
His funeral is 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hillcrest Lawn Chapel in Great Falls, with entombment to follow. A fellowship will be held at his daughter Terry's home immediately following the service. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home of Havre is handling arrangements.
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 two days old, he traveled to Great Falls 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 Company.
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 on 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. After being discharged, Jack returned to work for the Mountain Bell Phone Company. He was promoted to manager of the company in Cut Bank 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, a member of the Great Falls Planning Board, Toastmasters, the Meadow Lark 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, where he served as the manager for three years after he retired from the phone company. He also 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, Ariz., permanently in 2000. In Arizona Jack was a member and served as president of the Lake View Wood Shop for five 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, Terry (Jerry) Fish of Great Falls, and Mary Kay (Marty) Olson of Cut Bank; six grandchildren, Travis Fish of Phoenix, Jennifer (Dustin) Kinsella of Havre, Jill (Brent) Reber of Havre, Justin Fish of Phoenix, Ryan Olson of Cut Bank and Lindsay (Kenny) Buhler of Corvallis; seven great-grandchildren Lane, Logan and Landon Kinsella, Shea and Madison Reber; Hannah and Hogan Buhler; his sister, Betty Bye of Mesa, Ariz.; sister and brother-in-law, Bob and Pat Holmstrom of Billings; several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions in Jack's honor may be made to Peace Hospice House, in c/o Benefis Foundation, P.O. Box 7008 Great Falls, MT 59401 or to a memorial of one's choice.
Condolences may be posted online at hollandbonine@q.com and/or gftribune.com/obituaries.