Russell & Dorothy Hoffman

HOFFMAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/22/2010 at 16:17:32

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Russell and Dorothy Hoffman
By Russell Hoffman

We have been residents of Woodbury County since 1939. Russ and I met through National Business Training School. I was employed with Central Electric and Telephone Company. Russ worked for Swift and Company. Russ enlisted in the Air Force. We kept in contact and were married December 9, 1943. He was on furlough and we were married at Salem Lutheran Church just west of Dakota City, Nebraska.

I was one of five children born to Milton and Ella Foreshoe. My paints and grandparents were early settlers of Dakota County. (See Dakota County Nebraska History 1982.) I graduated from Daktoa City High School in 1933.

Russ was born at Hardwick, Minnesota. Later moving with his parents and sister to Ashton, Iowa, he graduated from Ashton High School. His parents moved to Sioux City in 1946.

Russ was stationed near Savannah, Georgia, so I was able to be with him for a year before his duty overseas. I returned home and was employed at the Sioux City Air-base. When the war ended Russ returned to his job at Swift’s. I continued to work until the birth of our first son, Timothy, born in 1948, and then our second son, Roger, was born in 1950.

In 1955, we purchased a Neighborhood grocery in Cole’s Addition. It was on the East side of Sioux City. We moved to a house near the store so we could both help. It was a busy life with long hours and two active sons. We discontinued the store in 1970. Our sons had both graduated from Central High School and Tim was attending University of Iowa. Both sons enlisted in the Air Force. Tim returned to school and graduated also from University of Iowa.

Tim married Michelle Anderson and they live in Atlanta, Georgia. They have two children, Eric and Kelly Blaine. Tim is employed as Flight Engineer with Eastern Airlines.

Roger married Christal Spilman and they live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They have two children, Seth and Julianna. Roger is employed with Small Business Administration.

After closing our store we found other employment. I retired in 1982 from Iowa Department of Social Services. Russ is still employed and with Iowa State Liquor Commission.

We were active in the Cole’s Addition Association and met many wonderful friends while in business. We attend Trinity Lutheran Church and are proud to call Sioux City our home.