On March 2nd, 2026, Joseph D Hofer of Huntley, MT passed away peacefully with his family around him. He went home to be with his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Joseph was born to Darius and Katrina Hofer, on September 4th, 1937, at Wolf Creek Hutterite Colony near Sterling Alberta Canada. His parents helped establish the Deerfield Colony near Danvers, MT when Joe was 9 years old.
Joe attended his sister’s wedding at Red Willow Colony, near Settler Alberta, Canada. At the wedding he met the prettiest girl, Rachel Stahl. Joe asked her for a date. Rachel answered, “No,” because she didn’t know him. Joe looked her in the eyes and said, “then I guess this wedding won’t be much fun.” Rachel agreed to the date. In 1960, Joe married the love of his life, Rachel Stahl. God blessed them with three children, Joseph Jr, Paul, and Dorothea.
Joe had a deep love for Jesus Christ. In 1975 he came to understand that the only way to heaven was by accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Joe and Rachel left the Hutterite Colony in 1975. They moved their family to a farm in Sumatra, MT. The early years were hard. It is difficult to farm wheat on dry gumbo. Joe and Rachel were known in the area for their faith in Jesus to provide the rain and the crop. Joe enjoyed raising sheep too.
Joe was fascinated with old tractors and vintage cars. He could tell you year by year each of the improvements made to trucks, tractors, and cars as far back as the 1930’s. He easily described make and model changes to transmissions, engines, diesel, and the loads they could carry. He was proud of his ability to read old manuals and figure out how to fix old tractors and trucks.
The Full Gospel Fellowship organization invited Joe to share his faith in Jesus at meetings. He shared his testimony in meetings in cities across Montana, North and South Dakota, and into Canada. Joe and Rachel sensed a calling from the Lord to establish Reaching Out Ministries and focused on sharing their love for Christ with the Hutterite people. Joe loved to pray for whoever had a need. Friends and family asked him to pray for their needs even in the last weeks of his life.
Joe and Rachel celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2025. Joe is survived by his loving wife Rachel and their three children Joe Jr. (Julie) Hofer of Kearney NE, Paule (Rachel) Hofer of Sumatra MT and Dorothea (Nicholas) Schueler of Huntley MT. Joe loved each of his eight grandchildren, Melissa (Pascal, Great Grandchildren Ellie-Rea and Deitrick), and Nathaniel Schueler, Brian Hofer, Jeanette Hofer, Heidi Schueler, Caleb Hofer, Bethany Hofer, and many nieces and nephews. Joe was known to call any of his grandchildren at the drop of a hat and he took calls from them even late into night.
He is preceded in death by his grandson Joshua Hofer, His parents Darius and Katrina, his brother Andy, Darius, Leonard, John and his sisters Katrina, Annie, Evelyn, and Dorothea.
As a Husband, Father, Grandpa, Uncle, Friend and minister, Joe will be greatly missed.
The funeral was held on March 7th, 2026, at the Height Family Funeral & Crematory. The funeral was recorded and is available for viewing on their website. (www.heightsfamilyfuneralhome.com). Joe is buried in the Huntley Cemetery near Huntley, Montana.
