We received news that Aunt May didn't have much time left
so we headed to Montana to say our goodbye.
We made it to Butte in the evening and said goodbye...The next morning Aunt May passed on peacefully surrounded by her loved ones.
On Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, our cherished mother, grandmother,
aunt, sister and friend, Alta May (Hunt) Hoffman, charted with
angels into the heavenly kingdom to once again reunite and rejoice
in the accompaniment of loved ones who have made the glorious
journey before her.
May was born to George and Mabel (Cox) Hunt, July 5, 1932, in Waterloo. She was the second youngest, the only girl, among four children. It is believed that her strong personality formed from the predominately male family structure; however, it is a known fact that through her family she developed a heart as big as the Hunt families’ hands. She was very close with her brothers, but Billy and May were inseparable and he remained her lifelong confidant. She became a skilled cook working alongside her mother at the Palm Café, where she later met her future husband with a little help from her mother’s coconut pie.
On March 1, 1950, she married her true love ,Charlie Hoffman. Together they moved to Butte and raised five wonderful boys. (This is believed to be what solidified her strong personality.) In the late 1970s, May and Charlie moved to Belgrade to farm the Hoffman family ranch. While at the ranch, May utilized her love of gardening to build some of the most beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. In addition to the gardens, her cooking and wind chimes created a family sanctuary. While at the ranch, she hosted many family dinners and the occasional game of Aggravation with family and friends (as long as you didn’t turn the board over). In Belgrade, she also worked for the school district as a cook at the elementary school.
In 1998, May and Charlie moved back to Butte to be closer to her boys and grandchildren. Again, she hosted amazing family feasts with portions comparable to that of the entire elementary school where she worked. Every morning she would have a hot pot of coffee ready for anyone who wanted to stop by and chat. On the weekends, her house was a common place for the family to randomly gather, because in addition to coffee, fresh donuts were also available.
May was full of life, she loved to live and lived to love, and she will be sorely missed, but will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have known her.
“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” — Washington Irving.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Elroy, Edwin and Billy; daughter-in-law, Debra Hoffman; and the true love of her life, Charlie Hoffman.
She is survived by her sons, Richard, John, George, Mark (Pam) and David; grandchildren, Autumn Hoffman, Deeanna (Quinton) Queer, Richard (Kristin) Hoffman, Christopher (JD) Hoffman; and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Shirley and Dorothy Hunt; special niece, Tammy (Hunt) Thompson; and numerous other relatives. In addition, May had many special friends, Sandy and Marissa Thomas, Tom and Jean Steel, Jack and Olive Smith, Ed and Gloria Dunn, the Shaw family, and Shirley Perini. We also thank the numerous friends who have offered support to the family throughout the years.
A wake will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, in Duggan Dolan Mortuary. Memorial services will be conducted at noon Monday, Oct. 17, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Memorials may be made to the Shriners or Our Lady of the Rockies.
There are so many words that we could say about our time in Montana, but the most important thing is that we were able to say goodbye. We love you Aunt May...we will see you on the other side!
May was born to George and Mabel (Cox) Hunt, July 5, 1932, in Waterloo. She was the second youngest, the only girl, among four children. It is believed that her strong personality formed from the predominately male family structure; however, it is a known fact that through her family she developed a heart as big as the Hunt families’ hands. She was very close with her brothers, but Billy and May were inseparable and he remained her lifelong confidant. She became a skilled cook working alongside her mother at the Palm Café, where she later met her future husband with a little help from her mother’s coconut pie.
On March 1, 1950, she married her true love ,Charlie Hoffman. Together they moved to Butte and raised five wonderful boys. (This is believed to be what solidified her strong personality.) In the late 1970s, May and Charlie moved to Belgrade to farm the Hoffman family ranch. While at the ranch, May utilized her love of gardening to build some of the most beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. In addition to the gardens, her cooking and wind chimes created a family sanctuary. While at the ranch, she hosted many family dinners and the occasional game of Aggravation with family and friends (as long as you didn’t turn the board over). In Belgrade, she also worked for the school district as a cook at the elementary school.
In 1998, May and Charlie moved back to Butte to be closer to her boys and grandchildren. Again, she hosted amazing family feasts with portions comparable to that of the entire elementary school where she worked. Every morning she would have a hot pot of coffee ready for anyone who wanted to stop by and chat. On the weekends, her house was a common place for the family to randomly gather, because in addition to coffee, fresh donuts were also available.
May was full of life, she loved to live and lived to love, and she will be sorely missed, but will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have known her.
“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” — Washington Irving.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Elroy, Edwin and Billy; daughter-in-law, Debra Hoffman; and the true love of her life, Charlie Hoffman.
She is survived by her sons, Richard, John, George, Mark (Pam) and David; grandchildren, Autumn Hoffman, Deeanna (Quinton) Queer, Richard (Kristin) Hoffman, Christopher (JD) Hoffman; and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Shirley and Dorothy Hunt; special niece, Tammy (Hunt) Thompson; and numerous other relatives. In addition, May had many special friends, Sandy and Marissa Thomas, Tom and Jean Steel, Jack and Olive Smith, Ed and Gloria Dunn, the Shaw family, and Shirley Perini. We also thank the numerous friends who have offered support to the family throughout the years.
A wake will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, in Duggan Dolan Mortuary. Memorial services will be conducted at noon Monday, Oct. 17, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Memorials may be made to the Shriners or Our Lady of the Rockies.
There are so many words that we could say about our time in Montana, but the most important thing is that we were able to say goodbye. We love you Aunt May...we will see you on the other side!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ After May's passing we decided to enjoy all of the things May and Grandpa Billy taught us to love about Butte Montana. We had huckleberry shakes, ate at PorkChop Johns, had town talk donuts for breakfast, visited old family homes, and stopped at the copper shop.
Drake adored sitting on the "midget toilet"...
Jed cannot resist the huckleberry shake shack!
Drake, Phoenix, and Grandma Shirley playing at a random waterfall in McDonald's parking lot...
Jed and Tiffy...young, in love, and silly little goofs!
Grandma Shirley remembering the good ole days...
Jed pretending to pick into the Budweiser van!
Jed and Tiffy got matching bracelets from the copper store.
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