Elinor Rachel Hoffman, 95

Elinor Rachel Hoffman, 95, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006, at her residence of Bee Hive homes in Missoula, Mont. Elinor moved to Missoula on her 94th birthday to be near her daughter and family.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006, at Coffelt's Funeral Chapel in Sandpoint. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Sandpoint. Pastor David Olson from the First Lutheran Church will officiate.

Elinor was born on April 19, 1910, in Gascoyne, N.D., the daughter of Caleb and Ella (Lawrence) Eldredge. She grew up and attended schools in Gascoyne, N.D. She followed her brother Tom to Montana where she was a cook on his ranch.

It was at the ranch that she met Valentine "Blackie" Hoffman. They were married on June 10, 1936 in Nashua, Mont. They made their home in New Deal, Montana until 1939 when they moved to Sandpoint, Idaho.

Elinor had a strong faith and was a member of First Lutheran Church in Sandpoint as well as a member of the Rebecca Circle. For 50 years she belonged to the Eagles Auxiliary where she was past president, secretary, treasurer and auditor. She was also honored as "mother of the year."

Elinor was a very compassionate individual and she had a wonderful sense of humor that she carried with her until the end. She was an avid reader until her eyesight would no longer allow her to do so. She enjoyed sewing and making quilts. She also loved to tend to her garden and flowers. Elinor always looked forward to spending quality time fishing with her husband.

Elinor is survived by: three children, Clifford (Jo) Reynolds of Chatteroy, Wash., Bruce (Jeane) Hoffman of Kootenai, Idaho, and Anita (John) Robinson of Missoula, Mont.; 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and three great-great-granddaughters. Elinor was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Val "Blackie" Hoffman; her five brothers and seven sisters, including Irma Knobf and Raynelle Self of Sandpoint.

Memorials can be given to Missoula Hospice, 2687 Palmer Suite B, Missoula, Mont., 59808. The family would like to give special thanks to the Missoula Hospice staff and to her extended family at the Bee Hive Spruce Home for the wonderful love, care and comfort they provided her.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.