Margaret Eleanor Hoffman

Margaret Eleanor Hoffman, age 83, a lifetime Park Rapids/Osage, MN area resident, peacefully entered the glory of Heaven on Saturday morning, December 3, 2016, surrounded by her loved ones, following a valiant battle against cancer at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids.                 Eleanor was born on August 14, 1933 in Detroit Lakes, MN to Arthur and LuLu (Crowell) Lydell.  She grew up on the family farm in Green Valley Township south of Osage.   Eleanor attended the District # 110 Country School near her home through the eighth grade before going on to attend high school in Park Rapids from where she graduated with the Class of 1951.   She was united in marriage to Arthur Hoffman on June 8, 1953 at the St. Peters Catholic Church in Park Rapids.  This union was blessed with four children: Debra, Robert, Gregory and Kathleen.  Eleanor devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and children.  She was a wonderful cook and baker who will be long remembered for her delicious potato salad and tuna salad.  In addition to caring for her family, Eleanor worked as a seamstress for the Wringer Manufacturing Co., for many years.  Later, she gained employment working for the State of MN at Itasca State Park in a career that spanned over 26 years until her retirement in 2005.  Margaret enjoyed keeping her home looking beautiful and spent many hours manicuring her yard.  She enjoyed raising colorful flower beds for all to see and enjoy.  Eleanor loved to watch and feed the many hummingbirds that graced her home.  She was a very friendly and sociable person who enjoyed spending time with her girlfriends. She and Art loved to dance and many an evening was spent floating across the dance floor in each other’s arms exhibiting great rhythm and grace.  As an elder daughter in a family of 16, Eleanor was instrumental in helping raise many of her younger sisters and brothers.  She was an avid sports fan who was eternally loyal to the MN Twins and Vikings. Eleanor was a long time member of the Assembly of God Church in Park Rapids.  Above all, she devoted her life to her children, grandchildren and siblings who she loved with all her heart.                 She will be lovingly remembered by her children:  Debra Conlon of Bemidji, Greg Hoffman of Rathdrum, ID and Kathy (Troy) Spaulding of St. Francis, MN; her six dearly loved grandchildren: Katie (Chris) Tack of Burnsville, MN, Christopher (Alicia) Conlon of Idaho Falls, ID, Michael Conlon of Eden Prairie, MN, Lindsay (Zach Brown) Spaulding of Isanti, MN, Caitlin Spaulding and Logan Spaulding both of St. Francis; one great grandsn, Mason Tack; nine siblings: Betty (Marlyn) Arneson of Seattle, WA, Pauline Loumaster of Queen Creek, AZ, Rodney (Judi) Lydell of Osage, MN, Lois (Ron) Green of Dorset, MN, Laura (Michael) Fowler of Hayward, WI, Ken (Barb) Lydell of Seattle, WA, Vivian Steinkraus of Hurley, WI, Susan (Dick) Pike of Kenai, AK, Jeanne (Ron) Kern of Hurley, WI; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.                 Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, her son, Robert “Chris” and six siblings: Harriet, Steven, Donald(Hilda Sowden), Roger (Jan Lydell), Wesley(Shirley Lydell) and Linda.                 Funeral services will be held 11 AM Saturday, December 10, 2016 at the Assembly of God Church in Park Rapids with Rev. Tim Wilson and Rev. Art Wood officiating.  Interment will be held in Riverside Cemetery at Osage.  Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 PM Friday, December 9, 2016 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and will continue at the church on Saturday beginning one hour prior to the service.  A luncheon will be hosted by the church for all following the funeral service.  To leave on line condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.jonespearson.com