Gus Hoffer

August "Gus" Hoffer, 93, of Kandiyohi, died Friday, June 21, at Sterling House in Willmar.
Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Kandiyohi. Interment will be in the church cemetery with military honors provided by the American Legion and the Patriot Guard.
Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Rice Hospice or the Disabled American Veterans.
August "Gus" John Hoffer was born March 22, 1920, on the family farm in Nobles County, Minnesota, to Inger (Frederiksen) and Herman Hoffer. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. Gus attended grade school and graduated from Delhi High School in 1938. Following high school, he worked for area farmers and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942. He served as a naval aviator until his honorable discharge in 1946.
In 1946, he started farming northeast of Kandiyohi. On September 24, 1947, he married Thoretta "Tess" Knudsen. To this union three daughters were born. They shared 63 years of marriage before Tess's death on April 10, 2010.
Besides being a dairy farmer, Gus was a DeKalb seed corn dealer for many years. He had been a member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Kandiyohi since 1946. He served on numerous boards over the years in addition to being a commander of the Willmar Civil Air Patrol. He was a member of the Atwater American Legion and the Willmar Area Disabled American Veterans.
Gus enjoyed spending time with and raising his daughters and square dancing with friends. He also enjoyed camping and fishing. He especially loved his John Deere tractors.
He is survived by three daughters, Lynette (and Joseph) Gordon of St. James, LeeAnn (and Craig) Gorans of Spicer and Laurie (and Robert) Ellanson of Lake Crystal; six grandchildren, Lincoln Gordon, Lindsey (and Kyle) Olson, Michael Aitkin, William Aitkin, Andrew (and Karen) Fostervold and Daniel (and Ashley) Aitkin; and six great-grandchildren, Hannah, Andrew & Ayla Aitkin, Ava & Ila Olson, and Castiel Fostervold. Also surviving are one brother, Charles Hoffer of St. Louis Park; four sisters-in-law, Virginia Knudsen of Lakeland, FL, Frances Knudsen of Hector, Marilyn Knudsen of Kandiyohi and Ramona Perron of Waconia; a very special friend, Mary Nelsen of Willmar.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Tess in 2010; one sister, Mae Hewitt; one brother, Edward Hoffer; and a son-in-law, Robert Aitkin in 2009.