Oliver Ingwald Hoff

Oliver Ingwald Hoff, 86, of Mayville, ND, died Monday, November 22, 2010 at Luther Memorial Home in Mayville, ND. Oliver was born April 17, 1924 in Ishpeming, Michigan to Sverre and Inger (Thoreson) Hoff. He attended grade school and high school in Ishpeming, graduating in 1942. He enrolled at Michigan Technological University in 1943 and graduated in June 1947, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Employment was in mining and heavy equipment areas. Oliver met Ethel Button of Brookfield, Illinois in Ishpeming in May 1948. They were married in Fargo, ND on January 1, 1949 and lived in Ishpeming until March 1951. The couple then moved to LaGrange, Illinois, Ethel’s home area. Oliver continued his education by attending night school at Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Illinois – Navy Pier Chicago, and University of Wisconsin – Madison. He was employed as a Design Development Engineer and enjoyed diversity in the areas of mining, heavy machinery, oceanography and nuclear research while he worked at Argonne National Laboratory at Argonne, Illinois for 22 years. He retired February 28, 1983. Oliver loved building miniature models of planes, cars, trucks, boats, wagons and H.O. trains. He “logged” 513 models from 1937 to 2006. Some are displayed at the Mayville, ND museum. Oliver was a member of the Elks and Masonic Fraternity from 1948. He was active in numerous Masonic Orders and Sons of Norway. He loved his friends and life, and lived it to the fullest. Oliver is survived by his wife, Ethel of Mayville. He was preceded in death by his parents, and baby brother. Visitation: 5-7 PM with a Masonic service at 7:00 PM on Friday at Luther Memorial Home Chapel, Mayville, ND, and will resume one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Funeral Service: 10:30 am Saturday, November 27, 2010 at Mayville Congregational United Church of Christ, Mayville, ND. Burial: Ishpeming, Michigan