Melvin J. Hoff, 79, of Libby

Melvin J. “Mel” Hoff, 79 passed away on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in Libby.  

He was born on July 7, 1935, at Temvik, N.D., to Adam and Freda Hoff. The family moved to Tappen, N.D., where Mel grew up. He graduated from Tappen High School in 1954.  

In July of 1957, he entered the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Sill, Okla., and Seoul,  South Korea, until being honorably discharged in July of 1959. He was employed by the North Dakota Highway Department for the next two years and then was employed with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in 1961.

He married the love of his life, Barbara Hack, on April 14, 1962. Mel transferred to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shortly after their marriage. They lived in Minot and Grand Forks, N.D., where Mel worked on the missile sites. He worked at various locations in the Denver, Colo., area, including the NORAD Tunnel in Colorado Springs. In 1968, he transferred to Libby where he worked at Libby Dam until his retirement in December of 1994.

Mel played on the Tappen High School basketball team during his high school years. In the early 70s he was the pitcher for slow-pitch softball on various Libby teams, and he also enjoyed league bowling. He was an avid hunter most of his adult life. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife Barbara Hoff of Libby; sons Brian Hoff and wife Marty of Cripple Creek, Colo., and Jeff Hoff and wife Raina of Libby; brother Arnold and wife Janice of Fargo, N.D.; sisters Emma Miller and husband Gary of Burley, Idaho, Phyllis Kramlich of Medina, N.D., and Ruby Wall of Bismarck, N.D.; and much-loved grandchildren Ethan, Ashlyn, Kayla and Halle, all of Libby.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby.  Memorials may be made to Hospice or to the Kootenai Valley Christian School at 1024 Montana Avenue in Libby.  

Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home & Crematory in Libby. Condolences may be made at www.schnackenbergfh.com.