Duane Hojer

Duane Erving Hojer, 89, of Oldham, SD, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at United Living Community in Brookings, SD, on April 10, 2025.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, April 14, 2025, at Oldham Lutheran Church in Oldham, South Dakota. Vicar Wanda Biel will officiate with music provided by Shar Jensen as organist as well as Paul & Glenadene Aamot and Mikenna Hojer as vocalists. Active pallbearers will be Duane's grandsons with honorary pallbearers being his granddaughters and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at Oldham Lutheran Church on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Burial will be at Oldham Lutheran Cemetery with a meal to follow.

Duane was born September 9, 1935, at home on a farm five miles west of where he and Virginia would later raise their children and live for many years. In January of 2024, Duane made a new home at the United Living Community. We appreciate the wonderful care Dad received; the staff grew to be part of his family, just as he became part of theirs.

Duane attended three country schools, the first being Streeter School, located one mile from where he was born. On March 1, 1942, he moved near Erwin, where he attended the Jensen School and was a member of the East Bethany Church. On March 1, 1944, he moved to the home place and attended Whitewood #2 School where he graduated from the eighth grade. At that time, all the country schools moved into town. He attended briefly before deciding to stay home and farm with his parents. While attending school, Duane drove both a Model A and even rode a horse to get back and forth. When he decided to stay home and farm, a teacher came to the farm and told him, “You need to get back in school; otherwise, you will never be able to figure out how much grain is in a grain bin.” Duane replied, “That’s easy — you just take length x width x height x 8.” Nothing more was said.

In 1955, Duane met the love of his life, Virginia, while fishing at Lake Whitewood. Duane and Virginia were united in marriage on February 11, 1956. That December, they moved into their forever home on the farm near Oldham. Over the years, they worked side by side milking cows, raising chickens, growing crops — all while raising their seven children.

Duane was an active member of the National Guard for eight years and spent many years serving on the Whitewood Township Board. He also was an active member of Oldham Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council and held every office except secretary along with teaching Sunday school. Back in the 1950s, Duane played a key role in helping to build the church, from pouring the footings to shingling the roof. Duane helped construct the gym and remodeled the old café, which is now the hair salon. In his limited spare time, Duane was a member of the South Dakota Snowmobile Association, where he was awarded “Man of the Year,” “Family of the Year,” Legacy Member, and Lifetime Member. He and Virginia went snowmobiling for 26 years in the Black Hills with friends and family. Duane was an avid hunter and enjoyed hunting with his children and grandchildren.

In addition to his love of farming and family, he was a master woodworker. Duane crafted countless frames for John Green prints and spent endless hours building kitchen sets, doll beds, toy boxes, and corrals for the grandchildren.

If you ever stopped by the farm, you were sure to have a tour of “Grandpa’s Toy Shop,” where he had an extensive collection of antique tractors and a Model A.

Survived by children: Scottie (Denise) Hojer of Oldham, SD; Alan (Pam) Hojer of Lake Preston, SD; Dan E. Hojer of Oldham, SD; Gale (Barb) Hojer of Woodbury, MN; Rhonda (Duane) Thull of Oldham, SD; Jay (Michelle) Hojer of Oldham, SD; Renae (Allen) White of Sioux Falls, SD; Teresa (Steve) Palmlund of DeSmet, SD. Twenty-three grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.  Sister Karen (Sonny) Heezen of Huron, SD; Brother in Law Dale (Barb) Ulvestad of Brookings, SD; Sister in Law Bev Palmer of Rapid City, SD. Along with many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Of all his accomplishments, his most cherished titles were Dad, Grandpa and Great- Grandpa. Grandchildren; Michael, Sarah and Laura (Cody) Hojer, Blake (Jennifer) Hojer, Nikki (Michael) Kroupa, and Christian (Jessica) Hojer; Ashley (Mike) Warner, Mark, Mikenna, and Matthew Hojer; Breanne (Brice) Christensen, and Brent Hojer; Kristyne, Jordan and Brooke Thull; Jacob (Mackenzie), Taylor, Caden Hojer; Mikaela, Trevor, Morgan, and Andrew Wipf.

Great Grandchildren; Jace, Jaden, Kaylee, and Brynn (Blake), Daniel, Liam, Ava, Emma and Lucy (Nikki), Landen and Kenlea (Ashley); Rhett, Oliver, Landon and Hudson (Christian); Miles (Breanne).

Duane was greeted in Heaven by his loving wife Virginia, his parents, Daniel and Ruth Hojer, sister Cheryl Ulvestad, and grandson Adam Hojer.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel.

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