Harold Hoffman

Harold H. Hoffman died Sunday, November 12, 2023 at the age of 87.  

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, Nov. 17, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.

Family will begin greeting guests one hour prior to the service.

Burial will be held at 2:00 PM at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. 

Harold was born on Sept. 7, 1936 in McClusky, ND to Herb and Margarite (Marchant) Hoffman.  He attended school in Sheridan County, McClusky and Wing, ND.

Harold joined the Navy in 1954 with his home base being in Norfolk, Virginia.  He spent the four years of his naval career as a welder and second machinist on a destroyer ship mostly in the Mediterranean and was fortunate to visit 47 different countries.  One time, while he and several friends were on shore in Italy, the ship was quickly called out because of the Suez Canal Crisis and Harold and his friends “missed the boat”.  During this shore leave, Harold and his friends bought new Italian suits and saw Rome in style.

During his naval career, Harold was also captured by Raul Castro (brother to Fidel Castro) and taken into the muddy jungles of Cuba.  He and the others were held captive, no harm was done to any of them unless you consider eating burritos, beans and rice, and drinking nothing but rum as “no harm”.  Raul Castro just wanted to show what he could do. 

 After Harold was discharged from the Navy, he moved to Bismarck.  Harold was employed as a guard at the State Penitentiary for almost thirty-two years until his retirement.  Harold often joked that he did 31 years at the ND State Pen, eight hours at a time.  He was met on retirement day at the front door by his daughter Penny and her husband Russell to walk out with him for this last time.

Harold married Grace Miller in August of 1959.  To this marriage three children were born: Penny (Russell) Metzner, Susan Hoffman and Scott Hoffman.  Harold and Grace later divorced in 1985.

In 1998, Harold married Mavis Flemmer in Yuma, Arizona.  With marrying Mavis, Harold inherited six adult stepchildren: Deb (Mark) Schwab, Darcy (Jeff) Sayler, Wyatt (Karla) Flemmer, Vicki (Ray) Kilzer, J.J. (Brent) Veil and Amy (Tom) Murphy.

Harold was an avid Ham Radio Operator, even getting Mavis interested in Ham Radio to where she received her own call sign.  They enjoyed this hobby together for many years, traveling to several “Hamfests” throughout the country making many lasting friendships.

During his retirement years, Harold spent a lot of time welding - making deer hangers, camper jacks and welded plant hangers.  Harold and Mavis were able to do a lot of traveling, by car and by camper.  Together, they covered most of the United States, even driving all the way to Alaska.   Harold loved to fish and camp (especially when he got to play practical jokes on his fellow camping friends).  Harold loved to garden and was famous for his pickles, he even made several quarts this year!

Harold leaves behind his wife of 25 years, Mavis; children, Penny (Russell) Metzner, Susan Hoffman and Scott Hoffman; grandchildren, Tiffany Metzer (Chance Buzalsky) Blackhawk, ND, Cody Metzner (Jennifer Searcy), West Fargo, ND, Natalie Metzner, Moorhead, MN, Ryan Perry and Kim Speidel of Bismarck ND, and Anna Ziegler, Washburn, ND; and great-grandchildren, Zoe Stolt, Kaydence Buzalsky, Blackhawk, SD, Jorde Heiser (Kenneth) Fargo, ND, Preston Short, West Fargo, ND;  and the very special great-great-grandprincess, Scarlet Heiser, Fargo, ND.  He also leaves behind his stepkids, many stepgrandchildren and stepgreat- grandchildren.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters and one brother-in-law; Carol (Wayne) Wrangham and Sharon Ferm, brother, Roy Hoffman; nephew, Roy Benedict; his first granddaughter, Jessica Hoffman; stepdaughter, Vicki Kilzer; and stepgrandson, Colby Kilzer.