Marlene Susan Hoffman, 57
Marlene Susan Hoffman, 57, passed away suddenly Jan. 22, 2009, of a massive heart attack. Sue, as everyone called her, “went to be with the Lord were she is celebrating free of pain and able to walk, run, sing and dance with joy.”
Sue was born June 16, 1951, in Yakima, Wash., to Lionel and Fern Dale. She was raised in Selah, Wash. She was the youngest of three children, raised as an only child as she lost her sister and brother at a young age.
After graduating high school, she went to college a short time and was a certified nursing assistant. She worked most of her life in nursing homes, and she worked at home health care in Kalispell.
Sue married the love of her life, Benjamin Franklin Hoffman III, in 1972; he passed away in 1990. They had three children. Sue raised her kids and stayed in Yakima, until she moved to Bigfork with her kids in 1999, where she lived until her death.
Sue enjoyed going to church most of her entire life and, most of all, she enjoyed her three grandchildren. She was very close and involved in all their activities and never missed an opportunity to be with them.
Sue is survived by daughters,Tina Batin, of Bigfork, and Tonya Hoffman of Casper Wyo.; son, Benjamin Franklin Hoffman IV of Kalispell; and three grandchildren, Tanner Batin, Amanda Batin and Kelsey Batin, all of Bigfork.
“She joins in heaven” her mom, her dad, a sister and a brother, her grandparents on both sides and several aunts uncles, nieces and nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking donations be made to Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, in care of Tina Batin.
Viewing will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.
David Frank DeMars, 71
David Frank DeMars, age 71, passed away on Sunday January 25, 2009 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell, Montana.
David was born on March 5, 1937 in Nevis, Minnesota to David Silas and Mavis (Steel) DeMars. He was raised in Shelby, Montana, and graduated from Circle High School. David married Elsie James in 1956, in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. After high school, David worked for the U.S. Forest Service doing fire control. He later worked construction, operated heavy equipment, worked in the trucking industry as a mechanic, partsman and truck sales. He enjoyed gardening, auto restoration and building projects. He was preceded in death by his father David S. DeMars, a brother Jerry DeMars, sister Carolyn Seichting, and a son Russell DeMars. David is survived by his wife of 52 years, Elsie James DeMars, his children, Dale DeMars, Darla Czyz, Cindy Cory and Ginny Weber, sibling, Donald E and Danny L. DeMars, Shirley Koskella and Mavis Gordon, his mother Mavis DeMars, grandchildren, Nichole O’Masters, Daveleen McHenry, Cassandra and Misty DeMars, Kimberely Crosswhite, Kaitlin Barta, Johnathan Cory, Dalton and Dustin DeMars, Geoffrey Barta, several great grandchildren.
A Celebration of David’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday Jan. 29, at the Little Brown Church in Bigfork, Montana, with the Rev. Gary Hatt and Mike Steenson serving as co-officiants. You are invited to go to www.buffalohillfh.com to leave the family your condolences. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.