Evelyn Marie Hoffbeck

Evelyn "Evie" Hoffbeck, age 97, of Marshall, Minnesota, died on Monday, December 11, 2023, at Heritage Pointe Senior Living in Marshall. Funeral Services are 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Marshall. Interment will be in the Marshall Cemetery, followed by a reception for attendees back at the church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to her service, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, also at the church.

Evelyn Marie Spong was born on June 12, 1926, in Clifton Township, Minnesota. She was the daughter of H. B. "Ben" and Ethel (Miller) Spong. Evie was baptized into the Christian faith as an infant and later confirmed her baptismal vows at the age of 14. She attended rural school District 42 through the 8th grade and then attended Marshall High School, graduating with the class of 1944.

Evie was united in marriage to Francis "Fritz" Hoffbeck on May 9, 1946, and the couple farmed near Redwood Falls and Morgan until moving to their family farm east of Marshall in the fall of 1954. Evie was an active farm wife, helping raise their four children: Jerry, Jeanne, Lynne, and Cheryl. She went on to work as a typesetter in the offices for Southwest Minnesota State University for 22 years prior to her retirement in 1992.

Evie's enjoyments in life included golfing, bowling, making quilts for her family, and square dancing with Fritz. She helped organize her neighborhood Happy Hearts Club and enjoyed meeting with those friends over the years. Evie was a long-time faithful member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Milroy where she served on Church Council, taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and was active in several women's organizations. She volunteered in the office for Prairie Home Hospice for 15 years and served two terms on their Board of Directors. Evie and Fritz also enjoyed many years at their home on Lake Louise in Alexandria, Minnesota, spending many happy times there with family and neighbors. The couple moved from the farm to Marshall in 2007 when they became members of St. Stephen Lutheran Church. There Evie enjoyed circle meetings and the quilting group. Fritz and Evie moved to Heritage Pointe Senior Living in 2016. Fritz passed away in 2018.

Evie died peacefully in Marshall, Minnesota, on December 11, 2023. She had reached the age of 97 years, 5 months, and 29 days. Blessed be her memory.

She is survived by her 3 daughters, Jeanne Forsberg of Marshall, Lynne (Dave) Zick of Milroy, Cheri (Chris) Christensen of Buffalo; daughter-in-law, Sandy Hoffbeck of Marshall; 9 grandchildren, Jodi Fadness of Truman, Todd (Teri) Hoffbeck of North Branch, James Robert Havens of Chino Hills, CA, Troy Gilb of Aurora, IL, Kelly (Steve) Kontz of Bennington, NE, Ryan (Jen) Zick of Chaska, Scott (Becky) Zick of Milroy, Erik (Kathi) Christensen of Seattle, WA, Lisa Christensen (Greg Trochman) of Buffalo; 27 great grandchildren; 18 great-great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Floyd Hoffbeck of Redwood Falls; sister-in-law, Ardith Hoffbeck of Tracy; nieces, nephews, and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Francis "Fritz" Hoffbeck; son, Jerry Hoffbeck; parents, Ben and Ethel Spong; and 3 sisters, Arlene Pochardt, Helen Kruckenberg, and Esther Schneider.