Dolores Mae Severson Hoff, aged 91, of Whitehall, formerly of Pigeon Falls, died on Saturday, July 18, 2015, at Gundersen Tri-County Care Center in Whitehall.

Dolores was born on May 8, 1924, in Tamarack, Town of Trempealeau, rural Galesville, to Melvin and Mabelle (Linberg) Severson. She was baptized and confirmed at Tamarack Lutheran Church, Norway Valley, rural Arcadia, and completed the elementary grades at Kolstad and Holcomb Coulee Schools in Tamarack. After moving to Whitehall in 1936, she completed the upper grades and graduated from Whitehall Memorial High School in 1941.

Dolores continued her education as a business major at what was then Coleman Vocational in La Crosse, and she was later employed at the Briggs Transfer office in Whitehall.

Dolores married Richard Hoff in Washoe County, Nevada on September 29, 1943. They made their home in San Diego, California, where both were employed at Ryan Aircraft Corporation during World War II.
Dolores worked on the Ryan assembly line installing fabric covers on elevators, ailerons and rudders for B-24 bombers. Upon returning to Wisconsin, Dolores and Richard resided in Pigeon Falls, where she continued to live after Richard's death on September 7, 1989.

Dolores was active in the Pigeon Falls Evangelical Lutheran church as a Saturday and Sunday school teacher for many years, a charter member of the Mary-Martha Altar Guild and the directress for several years, the church council secretary for 12 years, and a member of the women's groups.

Her career outside the home included 10 years as a clerk with the Trempealeau County Soil Conservation Service. In 1962, she was appointed as Trempealeau County Register in Probate and Juvenile Court Clerk, positions she held for 24 years. In 1973, she was also appointed Trempealeau County Probate Registrar to administer Informed Probate when it became law in Wisconsin. During her employment with the court system, Dolores was a member of the Wisconsin Registers in Probate Association and served as its secretary for two terms.

After retirement in 1986, she was active in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), primarily as a volunteer at the Pigeon Falls Health Care Center. Dolores also enjoyed travel, including a trip to Norway; playing cards and doing crossword puzzles and word jumbles; and, throughout her life, beautifully playing any melody by ear on her piano.

Dolores is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth "Biz" (Howard) Steinberg of San Luis Obispo, California, and Stephanie Hoff of Urbandale, Iowa; three grandchildren, Libby (Brian) Steinberg Parker, Valerie (Brendan) Creane and Jordan (Kerry) Steinberg; and five great-grandchildren, Greyson Parker, Zoe and Ella Creane, and Aiden and Joseph Steinberg. Additional survivors include brothers-in-law, Reynolds Tomter and Oscar Hoff; sisters-in-law, Carla Harrington and Patricia Hoff; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and their families.

In addition to her parents and husband, Dolores was preceded in death by her sister, Evelyn Hoff, and an infant brother, Lawrence Severson.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 31, at Peace Lutheran of Pigeon Falls, with burial in the Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Pigeon Falls. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30, at Jack Funeral Home, Whitehall, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the Peace Lutheran Endowment Fund, the National Kidney Foundation or a charity of one's choice.