Helen J. Hoff

Helen Hoff, age 88, of Barnesville, MN, formerly of Minot, ND, died on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND. 

A Celebration of Life will be held 11:00 am on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Korsmo Funeral Service in Moorhead, with Pastor Jim Wilson officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. 

Graveside services will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Minot, ND. 

Helen Joyce Wold was born on November 15, 1936, to Harley and Elva (Harmon) Wold in Black River Falls, WI. She grew up in Black River Falls and attended Lincoln High School in Alma Center, WI. During her high school years, she played percussion in the band, was part of the Glee Club, Choir, Future Homemakers of America, Drama, and the Yearbook and Newspaper Staff. She graduated in 1954. Also during her high school years, she worked for the Crippled Children’s Home as a CNA. Following graduation, Helen moved to Madison, WI and continued working as a CNA at the Madison General Hospital. 

In April of 1955, while taking a ride on the Greyhound Bus, she met the bus driver Harvey Hoff, and they were engaged a month later. On June 23, 1956, Helen was united in marriage to Harvey in Merrillan, WI and she gained a son Don. They started out their married life in Madison, WI and Helen worked at the Mendota State Hospital. Soon they would add daughter Suzanne before moving to Venturia, ND to help on the Hoff Family Farm. They would add Jeff and Char, and when they moved to Minot they added Cory to the family. The family would move to Minot, ND and Helen worked as a waitress in the Sears Store before working in the print shop in Minot. In 1979, they moved to the Dickinson area and Helen worked at the Ramada Inn in the housekeeping department. They would move back to Minot in 1983, and Helen went back to work in the print shop for many years before her retirement. 

Helen belonged to the Vincent United Methodist Church. She also belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star Venus Chapter 14 and served as the Worthy Matron for two years. Helen was adventurous and not afraid to jump in the car and take a road trip along the back roads of North Dakota, where she would stop and enjoy the sights and any landmarks along the trail. During her free time she enjoyed reading and painting Christmas ornaments and ceramics. In her years, she loved music and dancing. 

Harvey died in October of 2000, and Helen would relocate to Barnesville, MN to live closer to Char and her family. This allowed her to take in many sporting events of her grandchildren. Helen will be remembered as a strong minded, independent woman who could be sassy when she needed to be. 

Helen is survived by four children: Suzanne (Scott) Walters of Marysville, WA, Jeff (Denise) Hoff of Tuscola, TX, Char (Stacy) Grosz of Barnesville, MN, Cory (June) Hoff of Las Vegas, NV; daughter in law Mary Hoff of Greeley, CO; 13 grandchildren: Sarah (Brandon) Hiett, David (Dani) Hoff, Laura Hoff, Raechel (Ryan) Loomis, Meaghan Walters, Brendan (Stephanie) Walters, Jackie (Charlie) Charlebois, Denton (Deidre) Kimber, Katherine (Joshua) Briese, Jacob (Hailey) Grosz, Alison (Derek) Knapper, Maria (Amanda) Mantanona, Tomas Mantanona; 20 great grandchildren, sister in law Mildred Baumgartner of Dufer, OR; and nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. 

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Harvey, parents Harley and Elva Wold, one son Don Hoff, and one sister Maye Bostwick.