Obituary: Willis John Hossfeld
Author: Doris Hossfeld
WILLIS JOHN HOSSFELD, JR
3/29/1933 – 8/1/2023
Doris Hossfeld
Willis was born to Willis and Mary (Dundas) Hossfeld on March 29, 1933, in Townsend, MT, and passed into the Lord’s hands on August 1st in Great Falls following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was a lifelong rancher in Crow Creek Valley near Toston, MT.
Willis attended elementary school in Radersburg and graduated from Broadwater County High School in 1951. He served his country in the US Army from 1953 to 1955 being stationed in Germany during the Korean War.
On June 14, 1958, he married Doris Oberg in Townsend and to that union, 3 children were born: Nancy, Robert and Christopher.
Willis worked numerous jobs, including underground mining at the Marietta mine until he and Doris began their ranching life on the Gruber homestead in March 1967 which continued until health issues forced his retirement. He was an adamant hunter and lived every year anticipating “opening day” and he acquired many friends through hunting who quickly became part of the family and close friends throughout his life.
At age 65 Willis became a Christian, giving his life to the lord and later became a member of Trailhead Christian Fellowship Church which he loved (and the cookies following service every Sunday). Many new friends came into his life through his Christian walk even though Alzheimer’s changed him and made life difficult.
Willis served as a Trustee on the Crow Creek School Board, a 35-year volunteer for Toston Rural Fire Department, a 1982 charter member of the Broadwater County Lions Club, a member of American Legion Post 42 in Townsend and an adamant pinochle player with his “pinochle family”.
Willis is survived by his wife of 65 years Doris; daughter, Nancy, and her children, Joshua, Saleena, Keenan and Richard; son, Bob (Theresa), and children, Jonathon, Jasmine and Justin; son, Christopher and numerous great grandchildren and even great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Willis & Mary Hossfeld; grandparents, Bob and Agnes Dundas and John & Vinnie (Harwood) Hossfeld.
Services will be held at Trailhead Christian Fellowship Church on August 12 at 11 AM with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Trailhead Church Building Fund in Willis’s name would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks to all of you who were his friends and may God bless you and give you peace.
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PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: Doris Hossfeld
Image 1 Caption: Wills Hossfeld Older
Photo Credits: Doris Hossfeld
Image 2 Caption: Wills Hossfeld as a young man.
Photo Credits: Doris Hossfeld
