Michael J Hoffart

Michael J. Hoffart, 96 of Georgia and formerly of Rugby died Thursday, November 21, 2019 in Baldwin County, Georgia. He was born on March 3, 1923 to Eli and Magdalena (Kraft) Hoffart on their homestead in Silva, Pierce County, North Dakota. Michael attended school in Silva and assisted his parents on the farm until he was drafted during WWII in 1943. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and returned home to help on the farm. He was united in marriage to Tekla Tuchscherer in 1949 at the Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby. The couple moved to Washington state, where they worked at the Boeing Aircraft plant. Mike went on to work at the shipyard in Washington building Liberty Ships. Once they had their first child in 1950, they moved back to North Dakota. The couple lived between Washington State and North Dakota for a period of years before purchasing a farm in Silva, North Dakota and began farming. They continued farming until 1978 and in the latter part of that year they moved to Georgia. They worked at the papermills in that area. In 1981, Mike and Tekla moved back to Rugby where they owned and operated the Hideout Bar for 7 ½ years, at which time they retired. Mike lost his wife of 61 years, Tekla in September of 2010. Michael is survived by his children, Elias (Carol) and Sheila (William) Boyd; grandchildren, great grandchildren; a sister, Evangeline (Wayne) Gerig; nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his daughters, Sandra and Michele; brothers, Andrew, Alex and John; sisters, Magdalena Axtman, Katherine Modahl, Margaret Haverstraw and Elizabeth Hager; 2 infants and his parents. Graveside services will be held at Little Flower Catholic Cemetery in the spring 2020.