Luella (Lu) Lottie Johnson Hoffine, 89

Luella (Lu) Lottie Johnson Hoffine, 89, passed away on June 20, 2006, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

A celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 15, in Coffelt's Funeral Chapel. Chuck Wigton will officiate, with internment in Pack River Cemetery.

Lu was born in Tonawanda, N.Y., on Jan. 8, 1917, the daughter of George W. and Theresa (Yeaw) Johnson. She moved to Idaho as a small child and spent her life in Bonner County. She went to Farmin grade school and graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1935.

She worked for the telephone company as a switchboard operator until she married Leon R. Hoffine on Jan. 15, 1940.

She loved to sew, knit, crochet, and cook. She was a 4-H leader for many years and taught many children how to cook.

She was a lifetime member of the First Christian Church in Sandpoint. She volunteered wherever needed, including at Bonner General Hospital as a Pink Lady, senior thrift store, and helped the senior center achieve all the success that they enjoy to this day.

She is survived by two daughters, Helen Aitken of Portland, Ore., and Joyce (Loyd) Campbell of Sagle; two stepsons, Dennis and Marilyn Hoffine of Fort Worth, Texas, and Stephen (Ethal) Hoffine of Laramie, Wyo.; 12 grandchildren, Mike, Morina, Gayla, Theresa, James Dean, Stephen Jr., Kim, Kathy, Vicki, Mike and Doug. She also is survived by a multitude of great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Leon; her parents; one stepson, Lavalle; two sisters, Josephine (Josie) Welling, and Eva Short; two brothers, George and Joseph (Joe); four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials can be made to the Shriners Hospital in Spokane in memory of Lou Hoffine.