Alfred "Alf" Hoff

Alf Hoff, 87, formerly of Polson and Thompson Falls, died Monday, June 27, 2005, at the Evergreen Nursing Home in Missoula.

Alf was born in Bonetraill, N.D., on Oct. 30, 1917, to Hilda and Olav Hoff, both Norwegian immigrants. Life was hard on the prairie, so in 1936, Olav, Hilda and their four sons moved to the Thompson Falls area. Alf's education was cut short due to the Depression, but he did graduate from the eighth grade. He worked in the woods and as a sawmill worker until he was inducted into the U.S. Army during World War II. In the spring of 1943, he became a proud member of the 87th Mountain Infantry. These men had to be in first-class physical condition. They trained at Camp Hale in the heart of the Colorado Rockies.

He often talked about how they were taught to ski by some of the best skiers in the world. Training consisted of having full packs on their backs to condition them to be at the peak of their physical endurance. He was an expert M-1 rifle marksman. While in the 87th, he took part in the recapture of Kiska in the Aleutian Islands and also served in Italy and other parts of Europe as a ski trooper.

In 1953, he married Helen Sloan. He became an instant father to Helen's daughter Royce Ann. Royce Ann took to Alf, immediately becoming his shadow, and soon his little helper. He and Helen had two children, Shirley and Bradley. The family moved to the Lewiston, Idaho/Clarkston, Wash. area, where Alf worked construction.

He and Helen divorced while living there. He worked on dams in Washington, Idaho and Montana. Around the early '70s, he moved to Polson and worked in sawmills. He called Polson home and lived there until he had to move to Missoula in April of this year to be close to his doctors. He was a strong supporter of the VFW Club. He always had time for friends and always had a smile on his face.

In recent years, Alf's arthritis limited his mobility and caused his move. Even though he would state that he wasn't much of a family man, he cared deeply for his family. He was proud of the college degrees of Shirley and grandson Brandon and marveled at the work Brad does in the aerospace industry. He attended the high school graduations of his granddaughters, Loree and Dennise, and hardly ever missed the special events in the Hoff family.

Alf was preceded in death by his parents, Olaf and Hilda; one brother, Olav "Ole" and a daughter, Royce Ann Hough.

He is survived by his daughter, Shirley Hofland her and husband Kim of Thompson Falls; his son, Brad and his wife Laura of Puyallup, Wash.; four grandchildren, Loree Hough of Pasco, Wash.; Dennise Schafer and her husband Shawn of Gresham, Ore., Brandon Hoff of Seattle and Nichole Hoff of Castle Rock, Wash.; and two brothers, Maynard of Thompson Falls and Edwin of Pasco.

There was a celebration of Alf's life at Shirley and Kim's home on July 5. Arrangements were under the direction of Bunch-Toews Funeral Chapels.