Morris Hoenke

A Funeral Service for Morris A. Hoenke, 84, of Plevna, MT will be at 11:00 a. m. on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at American Lutheran Church in Baker, MT. Interment will follow in Peace Lutheran Cemetery at Plevna. Visitation will be 4:00 p. m. to 9:00 p. m. on Monday February 4th at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker, with a Prayer service at 7:00 p. m. Morris Albert Hoenke, 84, passed away with his family by his side on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at Billings Clinic, Billings, MT following a short illness. Morris was born October 9, 1928, the 4th of seven children to Rudolph & Louise Christman Hoenke in Plevna, MT. At a very young age Morris taught himself to drive truck and helped his father with whatever job he needed assistance. Morris was introduced to Delphine Fost from a friend and after talking for a short while later told his mother, ?That?s the girl I?m going to marry?. They were married September 5, 1948 in the American Lutheran Church in Baker. To this union two children were born, Michael in 1951 & Janice in 1958. In the early days they moved from place to place on gravel jobs. Settling back in Plevna, he continued to drive truck. The young couple lived in one of the apartments at Morris? mothers on Main Street and then purchased a small house from the church. After selling the house they built a small house behind a garage and started a mobile gas station. In the 60?s Morris built a new home for the superintendent and when he left they moved into that home. So began his career of construction and carpentry. They sold that home after Morris built another new home across the street where they lived for 43 years until recently moving to Baker, Montana. He also ran a custom combining and trucking partnership with son, Mike for many years. In 1957 the school needed a bus driver for a new route north of Plevna. They asked Morris to drive and he said he would drive temporarily until they found a permanent driver. Morris retired after driving two generations of students to and from their activities in 2002 he was given a reception honoring him for 44 years of dedication to the kids and their activities which he dearly enjoyed. Delphine rode along with him whenever she could. Morris enjoyed being a part of the kid?s lives and was proud to be a Plevna Cougar. Morris and Delphine also drove two mail routes for the Plevna Postal service for 22 years. Morris was contracted for many remodeling jobs for the school. You can see his handiwork in the concession stand, trophy cases, and the school rental houses. He was honored with a citation of appreciation from the Plevna FFA organization. He built the narthex at the Peace Lutheran Church of which he was a long standing member and helped with many maintenance projects. He was a council member, usher and served in many other capacities. When the railroad moved a building off the property where the current Plevna Park sits, it was Morris, Delphine, and his mother Louise who planted trees and groomed the land to make a park. Morris enjoyed watching the Cougar basketball games. He also enjoyed his family, especially working with his kids and grandkids, teaching them to drive and the wood working/construction trade. In his later years he built doll houses for his granddaughter and great granddaughters. Morris is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Delphine; son Mike (Janet) Hoenke of Billings; daughter Janice (John) Moser of Baker; sisters ? Pearl (Bud) Shepherd, Everett, WA; Doris Frost, Chandler, AZ; Betty Hayes, Arvada, CO; Shirley (John) Hamby, Billings; grandchildren ? Tiffany (Ty) Hampton of Medford, OR; Bridgette Hoenke of Missoula, MT; Justin (Michelle) Moser of Billings; Jason (Michelle) Moser of Baker; great grandchildren ? Jerrick, Maddox, Maria and Jackson Moser. Preceding Morris in death were his parents, Rudolph and Louise Hoenke; sister and brother-in-law, Florence and Albert Quenzer; brother and sister-in-law, Leonard and Ruth Hoenke; and brothers-in-law, Jesse Hayes and Keith Frost.


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Burial Date: February 5, 2013
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral Service: Tuesday, American Lutheran Church, Baker, MT