Debra Hofmeister

Debra A. Hofmeister, 54, of Huron, SD, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 17, 2008 at Huron Medical Center in Huron. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in New Ulm with Father Mark Steffl celebrating the Mass. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Visitation will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday and will continue from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm. There will be a parish prayer service at 6 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Debra is survived by her parents, Victor and Marilou Hofmeister of Mankato; fiancé, Doug Cockrell; sister and brother-in-law, Heidi and Colin Evers of Brookings, South Dakota; brothers, Roger Hofmeister and his wife Brenda of Denville, New Jersey, Duane Hofmeister of Mankato, Brian Hofmeister and his fiancé Rebecca Gerlach of Rochester; aunts, uncles, 3 nephews and 1 niece. She was preceded in death by her grandparents; a brother Paul Hofmeister in infancy; 2 aunts and 3 uncles. Debra Ann Hofmeister was born on January 19, 1954, in New Ulm to Victor and Marilou (Wolfe) Hofmeister. She attended elementary school in New Ulm. Her family moved to Mankato in 1965. She graduated in 1972 from Mankato High School. She then attended Ancker School of Nursing in St. Paul, graduating in 1975. She worked as a registered nurse in Mankato and then in Rochester. Deb married Vernon Huffman on November 15, 1986. She then moved to North Carolina. Deb had a daughter Lacey Jo Marie born on April 23, 1989, whom she lovingly placed for adoption. Her marriage to Vernon ended in divorce in March of 1990. Deb continued to work as a nurse in North Carolina, until her health no longer allowed her to. Deb moved to Huron, S.D. in 2003 to be closer to her family. She enjoyed reading and was very talented in counted cross stitch and knitting. Deb was recently engaged to be married to her long term friend and companion Doug Cockrell.