Rebecca "Ankela" Hofer, 88, passed away on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 at her home. Rebecca was born on December 18, 1925 to Rev. Joseph and Anna Hofer at Maxwell Colony in Eli, Manitoba. At the age of 7, she moved to Alsask, Sask. with her family where they stayed until poverty forced them to move back to Maxwell Colony in 1935. From there they moved to New Elm Springs Colony by Ethan, SD, where she met and married Michael Hofer, her beloved husband of 50 years, whom she missed tremendously till her death 18 years later. In 1958, they moved to Big Stone Colony by Graceville, Minn., where she served as head cook and Zei¡ S¡neidrin, till they moved to Pleasant Valley Colony by Flandreau, SD. There, she continued to serve the community in those positions until she resigned from head cook in 1984 and seamstress in 2003. During those years, she raised a family of 13 children. Ankela put a lot of effort into everything she did, making sure it was all done perfectly, from preparing food as head cook, to the tiniest bootie and cap she knitted. Ankela left us all an incredible legacy of hospitality, generosity, and unselfishness.

Ankela is survived by her 12 children; Shirley (George) Waldner, Spring Prairie, Hilda (Edward) Tschetter, Pleasant Valley, Paulina (John) Waldner, Hutterville, Tim (Susan) Hofer, Custer, WA Mike (Debbie) Hofer, Fargo, ND, Willie (Kristi) Hofer, Dilworth, MN, Simon (Susan) Hofer, Pleasant Valley, Maryann (Johnny) Stahl, Platte Colony, Helen (Tom) Waldner, Hutterville, Daniel Hofer, North Dakota, Leah (Rev. Zack) Tschetter, Pleasant Valley, George (Naomi) Hofer, Pleasant Valley; 2 sisters, Anna and Maria; 53 grandchildren; 96 great-grandchildren; and countless cherish friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike, one daughter, Rebecca, one son, Harold, 5 grandchildren, George, Phillip, Johnny, Jolene, and Tammy.

Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Friday, September 26, 2014 at Pleasant Valley Colony, Flandreau. Visitation will begin at 2:00 pm Thursday.