Kathleen Kay Hoffman

Kathy Smith-Hoffman, age 72, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on March 14, 2021, after a hard and fiercely-fought battle with ovarian cancer. She is survived by her high school sweet-heart of 53 years, Elmer Hoffman. Mother, Maysel Smith-Garner. Daughter and husband, Dennell & Craig Rutledge. Son and wife, James & Dawn Hoffman. Son and wife, Corey & Jennifer Hoffman. Cherished grandmother to Kaylla, Chance, Morgan, Tiara, Joseph, Mayleen, and Lori. Cherished great-grandmother to Elijah, Cash, & Remi. Beloved sister to Larry & Diane Smith, James & Martha Smith, Gorden & Ruth Smith, Laura & Bob Briggs, Wanda & Jim Dempsey, and Sandi & Don Strobel. Aunt to many nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved and cherished. She is preceded in death by her father, James Smith, and brother Larry Smith. Kathy was born in Valley City, North Dakota, in 1948 to the loving parents of James & Maysel Smith. She went to school and graduated from Post Falls High School in 1967 where she met her love, Elmer Hoffman. Soon after graduation they moved to Washington State where they began their family. Together they raised their three children. The house was always full of so much love, chaos, and lots and lots of laughter. Kathy was a Domestic Goddess for many years, but as her children grew, she began working outside of the home where her first job was working at a bakery, fittingly, since she loved to bake. She then migrated to Helac, in Auburn, and worked there for several years before an opportunity to move back to Post Falls arrived. Kathy and Elmer jumped at the chance and moved back to Idaho in 1995 where they have happily resided since. Her greatest joy in life was making a warm and loving home for her family and grandchildren, all of whom grew and flourished under her love and guidance. She loved to be outside working in the yard, mowing the fields, and working in the garden (except pulling weeds). Throughout the rest of the day, you could often find her crocheting personal blankets, working on a quilt or reading a book while her bread was rising in the kitchen. Kathy had a great sense of humor and even had some of the kids convinced that she had planted candy in the vegetable garden. You could often find her there with one of them picking and eating “candy” a.k.a. peas. When she was feeling particularly neglected by Elmer, she would often crawl under and up the newspaper that he was reading for a hug and a kiss. Sometimes she would do one of her belly-dance moves and shimmy her hips so that they would keep hitting his arm while he was TRYING to read the paper. He’d snap at her to leave him alone, but after much persistence on her part, he’d burst out laughing, tell she was being a pain, and he’d put the paper down so that she could plop onto his lap for extra kisses and snuggles. Kathy was also known for giving one mean Monkey Bump. You often wished that your arm would fall off if you were one of her lucky recipients. Kathy and Elmer often sat on the deck in the evening, holding hands, watching the clouds take different shapes, the birds singing, and watching the sunset as the day came to a close. No funeral service will be held, per her last request. Her family will be holding a private Celebration of Life in her honor. A hug heart-felt thank you to ALL of the staff, physicians, and paramedics at Summit Cancer Care Center, Kootenai Health Hospital, Kootenai County EMS, North Idaho Hospice, and Bell Tower Funeral Home for all of your loving care and compassion towards Kathy and her family. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to Hospice of North Idaho Schneidmiller Hospice House. https://www.hospiceofnorthidaho.org/schneidmiller-house/