Lena Hoch was born on May 7, 1935 to Herbert and Marie Dyck. She was the oldest of six children and was a great help to her parents in raising her siblings. Lena lived in Wolf Point until moving to Bellingham, Washington in 1946 where her family lived until 1951 when they came back to Montana. After graduating from Luster Bible Academy in 1953, she worked at JC Penney and the hospital for a short time.
On October 4, 1955 she married Edward Hoch. They made their home on the farm where Eddie grew up and together raised seven children. Lena worked beside Eddie on the farm wherever she could. She helped him butcher, cut and wrap meat. She helped him move farm equipment and cooked many, many meals for her children and Eddie while they farmed the land. Together, they raised cattle, chickens, pigs, and turkeys. Living on the farm was tough, but Lena and Eddie were a team, always together.
One of Lena’s passions was music. She was a very talented piano player. She enjoyed playing at home and for service on Sundays at the church. Lena also played the accordion and organ and taught her children to play instruments including the guitar, mandolin, and banjo. Not to mention all the kids learned how to sing and performed in church on numerous occasions.
Lena learned to decorate cakes from her mother. Together they made wedding, birthday, and anniversary cakes for others. After Marie passed away, Lena took over and was hired to make all kinds of cakes. Some of her favorites were the ones she lovingly made for her children’s weddings. When that business died down she spent time travelling around selling Cameo (for which she won numerous awards) and later took some time preparing taxes for H&R Block.
She had a special bond with her only daughter, Lori, cooking, baking and playing piano and her sister, Mavis, whom she loved to visit in Minneapolis. Lena had a kind heart, always made time for others, taught her children about God, but especially loved just spending time with all her children, their spouses and her grandchildren.
Lena is survived by her children: Ernie (Carla) of Chewelah, WA; Eric (Mary Kay) of Williston, ND; Everyl (Doreen) of Deer Park, WA; Ellery (Lori Ann) of Wolf Point, MT; Lori (Bruce) of Blaine, MN; Emory (Dalynn) of Zurich, Switzerland; Eli (Denise) Lino Lakes, MN. Grandchildren – Eliane, Elondra, Evan, Erin, Alyssa, Savanna, Loni, Jeannie, Kayla, Patrick, Carlie, Kenton, Austin, Lindsey, Lauren, Elynn, Easton, Colin, Garrett; and 14 Great Grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Mavis, and brothers, Harold, Les and Jim.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward; parents, Herbert and Marie, and her brother, Glenn.
A family and friends service will be held on Sunday, August 18, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 19, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Gospel Fellowship Church in Wolf Point. A luncheon will immediately follow the funeral at the church and interment will at Bethel Mennonite Cemetery in Lustre will follow at 1:30 p.m. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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