By HDN Staff
James August Hoffman, 73, a former Mountain Bell employee, died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002, due to complications from cancer.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday Jan. 18, 2002, at the O'Connor Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Walt Kirkegaard officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland
Cemetery in Great Falls. A fellowship for family and friends will be held at Jim's home beginning after the service until 3 p.m. at 208 30th Ave. NE.
Jim was born Aug. 13, 1928, to Emil and Dora V. (Haywood) Hoffman in Great Falls. He was educated in Great Falls, graduating from Great Falls High School in 1946. He explored several different types of work until he chose to work for the Mountain Bell Phone Co.
Jim first worked as a phone installer, and eventually worked his way up to a management position.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army 40th Signal Corps in 1951, serving in Japan and Korea. He received the Army Occupation Medal, the Korean Service Medal and the Bronze Service Star. After being honorably discharged, Jim returned to Great Falls to live and to work for Mountain Bell.
In 1974 he transferred with the company to Missoula and worked as an inside foreman and then moved to Boise, Idaho, to manage the outside crew for the Montana Operation. Jim retired from Mountain Bell in 1986 at 52 years of age.
In 1959 Jim married Lorna Jean Knudsen, the love of his life. She preceded him in death in 1992.
Jim loved people, sports, traveling and cars. He was an avid Chicago Cubs fan and would drive to Arizona in the winter to watch the baseball spring training games, attending every Cubs game. Jim enjoyed animals, especially dogs, Topper being his last dog. He enjoyed walking down to Gibson Park in the mornings and attending his regular coffee group. Jim had an amazing memory of people, places and events.
He was a member of the Elks Club and the Montana Telephone Pioneers.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Lorna.
Jim is survived by his sister, Elizabeth Bye of Mesa, Ariz., and his brother, Jack E. and wife, Mary Elizabeth Hoffman of Sun City, Ariz.; sisters-in-law Esther Hilts, and Alice and (Bill) Lander, both of Great Falls.
Memorials in Jim's honor may be made to the Great Falls Public Library Benefis Health Care Foundation, Children's Book Fund or c/o Peace Hospice, P.O. 59406-7008.
Services and arrangements are under the direction of O'Connor Funeral Home.
