SOURCE: Death Certificate:

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Montana Standard, MT. 10/05/2015

In his 91 plus years on this earth Robert "Bob" Hoffman lived a full and varied life. Born June 3, 1924, in Great Falls, Montana to Judge HB and Ruth Hoffman he grew up the third of four sons. As a youth he worked on ranches in the Great Falls area and developed an affinity for agriculture and ranching.

He served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II. After receiving an honorable discharge

Bob returned home to his beloved Montana and attended college at MSU in Bozeman.

There he met the love of his life, Sara Jane Forgy. He and Sara had common roots in ranching as she came from a ranching family in Helena, Montana.

They wed Dec. 27, 1947, and their love story continued for 68 years. The young Hoffmans began their married life in Billings, Montana. Two years and two children later the couple moved to Whitehall, Montana to embark on their first adventure as a ranching family running a sheep and cattle operation on the "Whitetail" six miles north of town.

In 1959, they bought a small ranch in the beautiful Ruby Valley and moved their young family, grown now to include five children, to Sheridan, Montana. The next two decades were dedicated to expanding the ranch and raising their family in this beautiful valley.

An unexpected bonus arrived in 1964 with the birth of their sixth child, Judy Kay. As the older children left the nest and moved on to their own lives Bob and Sara decided to sell the ranch and pursue other interests.

Bob, who was always keenly interested in politics and community service was elected as the Madison County Assessor and served in this role for over 15 years. During this chapter of his life he enjoyed getting better acquainted with the folks in his community and working with other assessors and policy makers at the state level. Bob's interest in state politics expanded through his work with the State Assessor's organization resulting in a successful campaign for State Representative. As a champion debater in college he was now in his element and relished his time in the state legislature.

Bob and Sara finally retired to a stunning spot in the middle of the Ruby Valley, once part of their ranching operations, just south of Sheridan. For a few years they became "snowbirds" and spent winter months in Mesa, Arizona. A new and wonderful group of friends resulted from their time there.

As a long-time rancher autumn was always Bob's favorite season. The irrigation water was turned off, hay was put up and the hard work of the summer was mostly done. He looked forward to saddling a good horse for roundup, marketing the calves, the camaraderie of fellow ranchers and time to rest. This was his last autumn and he has gone home to his final rest.

Bob is survived by his wife, Sara Jane Hoffman; five children; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Surviving children are: Connie Hoffman Jones, Robert Blaine Hoffman, Leslie Ann Morningstar, William Allen Hoffman, and Mark David Hoffman.

Daughter Judy Kay Hoffman is now deceased.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, from the K&L Mortuary Chapel at Sheridan.