Funeral services for Harriet Hoffman of Graceville were held Wednesday July 23, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Johnson, Minnesota. Pastor Eugene Andrus officiated. Visitation was held Tuesday, July 22, 2008 from 5-8 p.m. at the Larson Funeral Home in Graceville with a prayer service at 7 p.m. and for one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. Burial was in the Graceville Consolidated Cemetery.

 

    Harriet died on July 19, 2008, at her home in Graceville, surrounded by her children. She had reached the age of 89 years.Emma Harriet Madsen, daughter of Mads and Bodil (Oleson) Madsen, was born November 28, 1918 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At a very young age, Harriet’s family moved to Graceville where she grew up. She was baptized at her family’s home and confirmed on April 9, 1933 at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Graceville by Rev. Lenz. Harriet received her schooling at the Graceville Public Schools. Following her schooling, she continued to help at home and she also worked in the family restaurant.On May 21, 1938, she was united in marriage to Victor Hoffman in Sisseton, South Dakota. The couple continued to live in Graceville, where Harriet was a housewife and with Vic’s help raised their six children: Arlis, Phyliss, Vicki, Sharon, Gary and Diane.

 

    In 1974, Harriet and Vic purchased lakeshore property on Big Stone Lake, where they enjoyed fishing and entertaining their children and grandchildren. They moved to the lake permanently in 1986, just three months before Vic died on August 25, 1986. Harriet has continued to make her home in Graceville since that time.

 

    Harriet was a member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Graceville, where she was active in the Ladies Aid. For many years she volunteered her time to the American Cancer Drive. Harriet enjoyed gardening, canning, tending to her flowers, playing cards, working on crossword puzzles in the evenings, dice and board games, especially Rummikub.

 

    Harriet and Vic always enjoyed their snowmobiling trips and traveling to Montana to see Vic’s brothers and sisters. Harriet loved having her grandchildren come and visit and she would teach them new songs to sing. What Harriet loved most was having her family around her, especially at Christmas time, when they would all sing and dance around the Christmas tree.

 

    Harriet is survived by her children: Arlis Schmitz of Graceville, Phyliss (Verle) Saxton of Beardsley, Vicki Stange of Brainerd, Sharon (Donald) Schneider of Willmar, Gary (Ruth) Hoffman of Graceville and Diane (Orville) Vollmers of Dumont; 22 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Elmer (Bernice) Madsen of Graceville; one sister, Jean (Howard) Zimbrick of Beardsley; sisters-in-law: Donna Hoffman, Kathleen Hoffman and Margaret Hoffman all of East Helena, Montana, and Delores Zell of Shelby, Montana; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; sons-in-law: Ronald Schmitz, Clare Doschadis, Gerald Stange and Alvin McGill; granddaughter Karla Schmitz; great-granddaughter Shannon Hoffman; sisters: Anna Dion, Lily Johnson, Jeanette Phebus, Betty Fischer; and brothers: infant Elmer “Fatty” Madsen, Leigh Madsen and George Madsen.Pallbearers for the service were Harriet’s grandsons: Larry Schmitz, Gregory Doschadis, Duane Stange, Brian Wulff, Victor Hoffman and Brent Vollmers. Honorary pallbearers were the rest of Harriet’s grandchildren: Jenny Boettger, Brad Schmitz, Gary Schmitz, Colleen Neal, Jeff Doschadis, Scott Stange, Mark Stange, Rhonda Lambrecht, Tari Johnson, Bruce Wulff, Pam Henkelman, Kristen Chock, Katie Murphy, Rebekah Schmidt, Chad Vollmers and Breanna Vollmers.  Carol Johnson served as organist for the service. Larson Funeral Home in Graceville was in charge of the arrangements.