Our mother was born Barbara Grace Hedges on Jan. 9, 1928, in Marmarth, North Dakota, to Oliver and Ila Hedges. Mom passed on Feb. 18, 2020, in Ferndale surrounded by all her children.
She was raised in North and South Dakota and graduated from high school in Groton, South Dakota. Mom’s family relocated to Missoula, Montana, where she met the love of her life, Ole Hoff. Having no brothers or sisters, Mom was lonely growing up, but she made up for her loneliness when she married and had 10 children. In 1966 Dad took a job at Intalco in Ferndale, so he and mom moved our family to Bellingham and then to a farm in Ferndale where we found our roots. We had a very busy household, as we all liked gathering at our home with three or four friends in tow and mom welcomed them all. She loved our friends and they loved her. Mom worked full-time as well as being a full-time mother. Always present, she knew what we were doing before we knew what we were doing!
Mom worked at the Cedars Café, The Western Café, The Silver Fox and Mt Baker Lanes. She loved her jobs and her customers and she missed them all so much when she finally retired at age 85. Her hobbies were league volleyball, bowling, cooking, baking for family and friends, and traveling for the full month of August every year. Mom loved to ice skate and roller skate and taught all of us how to do both. She especially loved skating on the frozen lake in Kalispell, Montana. Mom loved the outdoors: camping, fishing, cooking and perking coffee over an open fire. She loved country music and she loved to dance. She loved Christmas and “Days of Our Lives” and an occasional trip to the casino. Mom taught us loyalty, honor, generosity, how to be hard workers, and she blessed us with stubbornness!
Mom was preceded in death by our Dad, Ole (Olav) Hoff; daughter Tammy Povsche, infant daughter Paula and infant grandson Corrigan Olave Gates; and Mom’s best friend, co-worker and travel buddy Zeata Tucker.
Mom is survived by her children: Pam (Dennis) Moodie, Cindy Taylor, Penny (Brady) Payne, Bobbie (Brick) Oxford, Debby (Gary) Medearis, Bud (Babe) Hoff, Bill Hoff, Patty (Bob) Danielson and Ole Hoff; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; as well as two dear friends, Maxine Bol and Chris Leary.
Donations may be made to Whatcom Hospice, 2800 Douglas Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. A special thank-you is extended to Ina for the excellent care and compassion shown to our Mother.
A funeral for Mom will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 7, in Moles Farewell Tributes Greenacres, 5700 Northwest Dr., Ferndale, followed by a Celebration of Life at the American Legion hall in Ferndale. A private graveside service will be held Monday, March 9.
Please share your memories of Barbara at www.molesfarewelltributes.com.
