Dennis Hoger

Funeral services for Dennis Hoger, 70, of Judson, ND, will be 11:00 a. m. CST, Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at Zion Lutheran Church in New Salem, ND with Pastor Russell Fitch officiating. Burial will follow in Judson Cemetery, Judson, ND. Military Rites will be by the New Salem American Legion Club. Visitation for Dennis will be from 4:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. CST, Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at Zion Lutheran Church. Dennis passed away Saturday, May 11, 2013 at Sanford Health Center, Bismarck, ND. Dennis Hoger was born May 5, 1943 in New Salem, ND, son of Carl and Martha (Wolf) Hoger. He attended school in New Salem, graduating from New Salem High School in 1961. After graduation, he worked with his uncle at Farmers Union Lumber constructing buildings. He went on to attend one semester at Bismarck Junior College with an interest in drafting. In 1962, Dennis joined the Army, serving for three years. On January 7, 1966, he was united in marriage to Donna Kouch. The couple lived south of Bismarck while Dennis worked for Kuhn trucking. He started working for Smith, Schmidt and Rusa Electrical Engineers receiving on the job training as a drafter and surveyor. While he was employed with Smith, Schmidt and Rusa, Dennis was sent on assignment to Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, SD, Laramie River Station in Wheatland, WY and to the peninsula in Seattle, WA. During the 1980’s he was sub-leased to McKenzie Electric and was assigned to survey power lines that were connected to water wells and oil wells. While employed with Mor-Gran-Sou Electric, Dennis surveyed, designed, and supervised the construction of many power lines throughout the area. On his many travels, Dennis never stopped looking for trouble spots on power lines along the road. Along with his years of work Dennis and Donna farmed and ranched in the Judson area for over 40 years. In 1976, Dennis and Donna started Hoger Buggy Works after he built a mud wagon (stage coach). Dennis and his son, Dale then began to restore horse drawn hearses. His first one was a several hundred year old classic. The funeral home that had it restored won many first place awards throughout the area. He also built buggies, sheep herder wagons and did wheel rite demonstrations at the North Dakota State Capital grounds and New Salem Fair. Dennis was also involved in the tracing of the Keogh Trail from Mandan, ND to Miles City, MT. , completing about 120 miles per year for three years. The stage coach that was used during the trail was the one Dennis built in 1976 as well as a chuck wagon he restored from a grain wagon. He especially loved and enjoyed his two grandchildren, Ethan and Wyatt. He taught them about his wagon restoration and train building. He loved spending quality time with each of them. Dennis was always fond of model trains, but he never finished his dream of completing his model train layout. Dennis is survived by his wife, Donna of Judson; sons, Dale (Hazel) Hoger of New Salem and Jay Schultz of Maxville, MT; sisters, Caroline Hummel of Puyallup, WA and Clara Schaner of New Salem; sister-in-law, Lorane Schwinkendorf of New Salem; two grandchildren, Ethan and Wyatt and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He was especially close to Kenny Gulickson, his Mor-Gran-Sou colleagues, and neighbors Jerome and Lauretta Wolff. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Martha Hoger, one brother, Carl Jr. ; five infant siblings; and four brothers-in-law.


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Burial Date: May 15, 2013
Funeral Home Glen Ullin, ND

Funeral Service: Wednesday: Zion Lutheran Church, New Salem, ND