Orpha Hoover

LITTLE PRAIRIE (Special)--Funeral services for Mrs. Orpha Hoover, a life-long resident of the Little Prairie community who passed away Saturday, Dec. 12 at the Northfield hospital, where she had been taken the previous afternoon, were held Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. at the Little Prairie Methodist Church. Hartien Boche of Jordan, a former pastor, officiated. Vocal duets, "Lead Kindly Light" and "Beyond The Sunset" were sung by Cecil Hutton and Arnold Lufi, and "Crossing The Bar" was sung by Miss Beverly Code. They were accompanied by Mrs. Cecil Code on the piano. Pallbearers were E. E. Schrader, George E. Little, Frank Conrad, Lowell Albers, D. K. Finger and J. R. McFarlane. Interment was in Groveland cemetery at Dundas. Orpha Edith Ennis, daughter of Israel and Jane Hess Ennis, was born Jan. 3, 1883 in the family home at Little Prairie. She attended the public schools in Little Prairie, Dundas and Northfield and following her graduation from high school in 1900, she taught school at Little Prairie and Morristown. On Nov. 30, 1905 she was united in marriage to Robert R. Hoover and they lived for a year in Cannon City township. Then they purchased the farm on which Mr. and Mrs. Claude Brown now live. At the time of her death, Mrs. Hoover resided with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Aldorfer, on the farm which she and her husband purchased in 1928. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Dorothy Lavina, in 1907; her husband, who passed away March 25, 1945; two sisters, Mrs. J. E. Code (Annie) and Mrs. Oscar Nelson (Lulu), and one brother, Wilson. She is survived by a son, Roland and a daughter, Anita of Little Prairie; three sisters, Mrs. F. E. Stowe (Minnie) of Little Prairie, Miss Ethel Ennis and Mrs. Paul Patterson (Catherine) of Northfield; two brothers, J. E. Ennis of Little Prairie and R. A. Ennis of Minot, N.D., and nine grandchildren, Robert, William, Luellla, Jean Ann, Susan, Charles, Kay Helen, Gail and Cherrie Robin Hoover. Among those who attended the funeral from away were Hartlen Boche of Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hayes and Miss Beverly Code of Minneapolis, Oscar L. Nelson of St. Louis Park, Mrs. Adam Schrae and Miss Eva Schrae of St. Paul, Mrs. Louise Smythe and Louis Aldorfer of South St. Paul, Frank Hutton of Farmington, Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Hayes of Medford and nieces, nephews and friends from Northfield and Faribault.

BOOK - RICE COUNTY FAMILIES. PUB. 1981. Robert and Orpha Hoover. Robert Roy Hoover, son of W. L. Hoover, and grandson of Jonas, was born on the family farm in 1881. He attended school in Dundas and in Faribault and was graduated from Brown’s Business College in Faribault. In 1905 he married Orpha Ennis, daughter of Israel Ennis of Little Prairie. She had taught school in Little Prairie and Morristown. The couple first lived on the family farm in Cannon City Township. Later they purchased and lived on farms in the Little Prairie area, settling in 1928 on the former R. L. Safford farm on which William L. Hoover had lived. The Hoovers were among the first in their neighborhood to enjoy gas lights and later electric lights in their home and they were among the early users of the automobile. Both Roy and Orpha were active in the Little Prairie Methodist Church. They played an active role in civic organizations as well, and exerted an influence upon the community. They had 3 children: Dorothy, who died in infancy, Anita, who married Adam Aldorfer, and an adopted son, Roland Hoover. Roland formerly lived on the farm in Section 29, Bridgewater Township, which his son, William, now owns. Roland and his wife, the former Helen Kirchen (now deceased), moved to Owatonna where he was employed by Gandy Company until his retirement. They had 11 children: Robert and family live in Detroit Lakes, MN; William in Little Prairie; Susan (Dalby), Faribault; Luella (Wherry), Arizona; Kay (Wocelka), St. Paul; Cherrie (Hollister), rural Northfield; Jean (Schultz), Faribault; Leslie, Germany; Gail (Marcotte), Hawaii; Charles, and Heide Huber Hoover, both of Owatonna. William Leonard Hoover, son of Roland, married Betty Kos of Owatonna. They live on the farm which formerly was owned by his parents and grandparents. Bill drives for United Parcel Service and works out of St. Paul. He and Betty are active in the Little Prairie United Methodist Church and in 4-H work and leadership. They have 4 children: Gloria (Heinz), James, Michael and Timothy.