Leonard Hoffmann
Leonard Hoffmann
Leonard Hoffmann, 92, of Bismarck, N.D., formerly of Watford City, N.D., passed away on March 27, 2020, in Bismarck.
Leonard Alysius Hoffmann was born June 7, 1927, to Louis and Luella Cora (La Plant) Hoffmann. Leonard was born on the Hoffmann homestead. He attended country school through eighth grade.
Leonard joined the U.S. Navy in 1945, serving his country in Guam during World War II. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1947. Leonard then attended SSCS at Wahpeton, N.D. in the fall of 1947.
On Sept. 17, 1948, he married his lifetime companion Lillian Watson. Together, they worked side-by-side farming and ranching with the Watson family for the next six years. This ranch was north of Grassy Butte along Highway 85 where they raised sheep, milked cows and raised grain crops. They greeted their first born, Colleen Margaret in Dec. of 1949 and their second daughter, Cheryl Lillian in Sept. of 1951.
Leonard and Lillian then had the opportunity to purchase the Hoffmann family farm southeast of Watford City in the fall of 1954 and their third child, a son, Leonard Wayne was born in Oct. of 1956. Leonard and Lillian worked together on the farm raising grain crops, forage crops, milked cows, raised beef cattle and a variety of other farm animals which they enjoyed for many years.
Leonard enjoyed farming and ranching, but also loved to fish, hunt, ride horses, snowmobile and fly. He owned and operated Hoffmann Motors in the 1970s. He also built and operated the Long X Mobile Home Park that opened in 1980. He enjoyed all of these ventures, however decided farming and ranching was his true love.
He and Lillian had the opportunity to travel to many different places around the globe, as well as many states and trips to see his family in the states of California, Kansas, Utah and Washington.
In 2012, they purchased a home in Gilbert, Ariz., so they could enjoy warmer winters. They enjoyed the winter months there, returning to the farm for the summer months. In the fall of 2018 due to health issues he and Lillian resided at St. Gabriel’s in Bismarck.
He was surrounded by family when he passed. Leonard loved life and his family, spending time with them as much as possible. He loved having them around and supported them, whether it be baseball, rodeo, horse shows or visiting Disney World with the grandkids.
Leonard was a 73-year member of the American Legion Carl E. Rogen Post #29 in Watford City, also serving on their Drill Team, a charter member of the Eagles Club since 1973, 50 Years in the Saddle, and he also served on the Farmers Union Oil Company Board of Directors for nine years and one term as President.
He is survived by his wife, Lillian of 71 years; his daughters, Colleen (Ronnie) Morlock, of Bismarck, and Cheryl (Scott), of Killdeer, N.D.; son, Leonard (Margaret), of Bismarck; grandchildren, Leah Madison (Robb Ziegler), of Blaine, Minn., Laurie (Jason) Koenig, of Chanhassen, Minn., DeAnn (Matt) Zanderm of Killdeer, Kara (Taylor) Bangm of Killdeer, Brett Hoffmann and Samantha (fiance’), St. Louis Park, Minn., and Ashley (Calvin) Crawford, of Bismarck; great-grandchildren, Hayden (Clarissa) Zander, Hoyt Zander, Colin Koenig, Karly Bang and Kelly Bang; brother, Donald, of Dickinson, N.D.; sisters-in-law, Linda Watson of Mesa, Ariz., Velma Hoffmann, of Spanish Fork, Utah, and Anna Hoffmann, of El Dorado, Kan.; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Luella Hoffmann; brothers and sister in-laws, Victor (Phyllis) Hoffmann, LeRoy Hoffmann, Raymond Hoffmann and Ray Hoffmann; sisters, Luella (Sam) Fox, Viola (Lon) Grange, Beulah (Donald) Morgan and Eveline (Adolf) Quinnell; father and mother-in-law, Woodie and Margaret Watson; brother-in-law, Woodie Lee Watson; sister-in-law, Lola (Kummer) Sondrol; and brother-in-law, Raymond Kummer.
Due to COVID-19, funeral services for Leonard are tentatively scheduled for May 29, 2020, at First Lutheran Church in Watford City under the direction of Fulkerson-Stevenson Funeral Home.