Marlene Hoffman
Mar. 13, 1943 – Jan. 7, 2021
Marlene Anne (Ekren)
Anderson Hoffman was
born to Myron and Myrtle
(Haugen) Ekren on March
13, 1943 in Rugby, North
Dakota. She died at the
age of 77 years on Thurs-
day, January 7, 2021 at
the Heart of America Care
Center in Rugby.
Marlene was born with
her twin sister who sur-
vived only a few hours.
She was raised in the
home of her parents in
Rugby and was educated
in the Rugby school sys-
tem. While attending
school she met her future
husband, Donald A.
Anderson. The couple
were married on April 1,
1960. After living in Rug-
by their first year of mar-
ried life the couple moved
to Pleasant Lake where
they raised their three
children, Dawn, David
and Debra and farmed.
She enjoyed being a
homemaker raising their
children, taking meals to
the field, baking and sew-
ing. Everything Marlene
did, she did well. Getting
off the school bus to the
smell of fresh buns was a
memory the children have
never forgotten. Marlene
was known for her
donuts, making many
batches for family and
friends. She was a go-to
person for many years
when it came to altera-
tions of any type of
clothing—such as prom
dresses, wedding dresses,
jeans, coats . . . whatever
anyone needed to be
fixed. It was important to
Marlene that her children
were always brightly
dressed for the first day of
school every year in a
new home sown outfit.
Marlene began working in
retail in Rugby when her
children were in junior
high and high school.
She worked at Myhre’s
Fashion for many years
and then at the Pamida
Store. One of her
highlights while working
for Bob Myhre was the op-
portunity to go with to
market, something she
talked about for a long
time.
Her husband Donald
passed away February 15,
1985, six weeks short of
their 25th wedding an-
niversary. Marlene
moved into Rugby at that
time, not wanting to be
alone on the farm. She
continued to work and
followed along with her
children’s lives as they
grew. She married Don
Hoffman November 15,
1998. The couple contin-
ued to live in Rugby
where they were active in
the community. Marlene
loved her bingo and the
Pepsi Cola at the Rugby
Eagle’s Club. She won
her share of big prizes.
Marlene is survived by
her husband, Don Hoff-
man of Rugby; a daughter
Dawn Anderson of Minot;
a son, David (Bea) of
Charlotte, North Carolina;
7 grandchildren; Casey
(Staci) Hoffart, Derek Hof-
fart; Matthew (Bri) Ander-
son, Katie Anderson, Co-
lin Anderson; Danielle
(Cole) DeFries and Rachel
Faller; 6
great-grandchildren; Cay-
den, Isaak, Finnley, Emer-
syn, Evan and Ella; broth-
ers; Leland (Connie) and
Curtis (Jane) Ekren, all of
Rugby; brother-ln-law
Loren (MaryAnn) Ander-
son of Minneapolis, Min-
nesota; and sister-in-law
JoAnn Anderson of Or-
mand Beach, Florida;
several nieces, nephews
and many relatives and
friends. She was preceded
in death by her first hus-
band, Donald Anderson;
daughter, Debra Anderson
Faller and her parents.
Do to COVID-19, the
family is planning to have
services for Marlene in
the spring/summer of
2021.
Casket Bearers: All
Family & Friends
Arrangements with the
Anderson Funeral Home
of Towner.
Online registry:
www.funeralsbyanderson.
com