Ferne Hoffman

Ferne B (Cox) Hoffman was born May 9,1924 in Lebanon, NE to Wesley and Mary (Williams) Cox. She passed away peacefully on September 25, 2024, at the Hester Home in Benkelman, NE.

Ferne lived in Lebanon until the age of 7 when her family moved south of McDonald, KS where they lived with her maternal grandparents until 1931, when her dad got a job with Elmer Hester as foreman on the Wine Glass Ranch north of Parks, NE. There she grew up until they moved again after the flood of 35’. She learned at an early age how to cook as she and her brother, Don did most of the cooking for the hired men at the Ranch. After taking time off from school to help take care of her mom and brother, she graduated with the class of 1944 from Parks Public School.

Ferne was working at the Morehouse Hospital in Benkelman NE when she met Lyle Hoffman and the two were married on March 8, 1945. Two children were born to this union, Randal Alan and Jann Marie. After working in Haigler for several years she got a job at the Wray Community Hospital in Wray, Colorado. During the summer, she would load up the kids and travel with Lyle to different locations that he was working on road construction. In 1960, they bought a house in Haigler and settled there for the next 18 years. While Lyle was on the road, Ferne made a home for her and the kids.

Her biggest passions were taking care of people and being in the kitchen. After she retired from over 30 years at the Wray Hospital, she continued to take care of the people in the community of Haigler. Ferne was well known through the area for her mouthwatering German chocolate, burnt sugar and her sour cream chocolate cakes. When her family would get together her table was.. pulled out and set with 6 extra leaves so that everyone could gather around it and no one ever went away from that table hungry. There wasn't a time that she wasn't cooking or baking or canning something. To keep busy after retirement she cooked at the Haigler School and the Golden Inn.

She was a proud member of the VFW Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Lutheran Church in Haigler and Benkelman. Her dedication to her community extended to serving on the EMT Squad in Haigler, where she offered her time and compassion to those in need.

Ferne is survived by her son Randy (Theresa) Hoffman of Duran, Ml, Jann Clark of Curtis, NE, Sister Evelyn Hart of Denver, CO, grandchildren Michael (Shalia) Brunswig, Amber (Chris) Rochefort, Mark (Susan) Brunswig, Ashley (TJ) Braizel, Chelsea (Brad) Harmon, Coy (Sammy Jo) Clark and six great-grandchildren who will carry her legacy forward as well and many nieces and nephews who loved her greatly.

She is preceded in death by her husband Lyle, her parents, sister, Mary Joy, and brothers, Lee, Don, Ike, Ivan, Darrell, twin brother Elmer and an infant brother. She also grieved the loss of two great­ grandsons Brandon and Braedon Rochefort.

A graveside inurnment service will be announced in the spring of 2025. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hester Home.