Vera Hoefer

Funeral services for 98-year old Vera Hoefer of Hay Springs, NE, are Thurs, Jan 26, 2023 at 10:00 at the United Methodist Church in Hay Springs. 

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 25, at 7:00 at the United Methodist Church in Hay Springs.

In lieu of flowers. the family requests memorial contributions to the Hay Springs Volunteer Fire Department, United Methodist Church of Hay Springs, or the Hay Springs Senior Citizen Center. Memorials can be sent to Chamberlain-Drabbels Mortuary, PO Box 443, Hay Springs, NE 69347

Online condolences may be left at Chamberlainchapel.com

Chamberlain-Drabbles Mortuary of Hay Springs is in charge of arrangements.

Vera Dahl Hoefer was born at the family farm 15 miles south of Hay Springs on Sept 4, 1924. She passed away on Jan 21, 2023, at Pioneer Manor in Hay Springs. 

Vera was the fourth child born to Jens and Sophie (Jensen) Dahl and went to the country school “Busy Bee”, District 93. She and her siblings walked to school 1.5 miles each day. 

Vera was baptized and confirmed in St Peter’s Lutheran Church on Mirage Flats, then later transferred membership to the United Methodist Church in Hay Springs. 

When she started high school in Hay Springs she stayed with her Aunt Ikey Stiehl and family during the week; then went home on weekends. 

Vera graduated from Hay Springs High School in May of 1942 and worked for a year at the Hillfield Airfield in Ogdon, UT.  She then went to Junction City, OR, and worked at a bank for one year. 

Vera came home to marry her high school sweetheart, Freeman Jean Hoefer, on August 3, 1944 in Hay Springs. They moved to San Diego, CA, where Jean was stationed at a Naval Base. 

During this time, Vera worked for aircraft manufacturer Consolidated Valtee as one of the original “Rosie the Riveters”! Her area was on the bottom of the nose of the PB4Y-2, a naval patrol plane. 

They returned to Hay Springs in 1946 and lived on the Hoefer farm for the next 16 years. During those early years, Vera lost a baby girl and boy to premature birth but in 1947 their son Dennis was born to complete their family. 

In 1961, they moved into town with both Veran and Jean employed at Northwestern State Bank for 20 years. Every year when their vacation was due, they would travel somewhere in their camper. 

They loved camping and through the years they visited all 50 states as well as Denmark, England, and Scotland, but also took a Caribbean Cruise and a cruise through the Panama Canal. 

Jean and Vera enjoyed a long fulfilling marriage of 72 years until his death in 2016.

Vera had many hobbies. She dearly loved to bowl, play bridge and other card games with friends as well as knitting, sewing, and crocheting. 

One of the specialties she was known for was her fabulous baking, especially her pies! In fact, if you mentioned “The Pie Lady,” everyone knew it was Vera. 

After retiring, Vera could be found at the Senior Center each Wednesday at 3:00 AM making 12 to 15 dozen doughnuts to sell. Once a month, she also went to Pioneer Manor to make donuts for the residents and became known as the “Donut Lady”! 

Vera was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary, joining in 1952, and was a 60 year member of the Rebecca Lodge. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and served as treasurer of the United Methodist Women for 25 years.

Vera joined the Joy Bell Choir in 1981 and was a member of the All-School Reunion Committee since 1978. 

Vera was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years Freeman Jean Hoefer; infant daughter Jeannette and infant son Roger; parents Jens and Sophie Dahl, in-laws Freeman and Myrtle Hoefer, sister Milda Gade, brothers Eivind, Elvin, Orval, and Lee Roy, sister-in-law Carol Reno, brother-in-law Harold Gade, and sister-in-law Jessie Goodin. 

Her survivors include son Dennis, Grandchildren Bryan (Lauren) Hoefer, Candace (Tony) Mrsny, Great-grandchildren Chloe and Tahya Mrsny, Alana, Lane, and Rylan Hoefer, sister-in-law Dorothy Dahl, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.