Jeanne A Hochhalter

Jeanne A. Hochhalter, 47 of Barnesville, Minnesota died Saturday, May 30, 2009 in the Palliative Care Unit of MeritCare Hospital, Fargo. Funeral service will be Thursday at 11:00 in Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Barnesville with Pastor Carlton Andersen officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4"8 with a prayer service at 7 in the Dobmeier Funeral home Barnesville. Interment will be in City Cemetery, Barnesville. Jeanne Adele Hochhalter, daughter of Durward and Phyllis (Meyer) Otterness, was born July 25, 1961 in Jamestown, North Dakota. She attended school and grew up in Tower City, North Dakota graduating from Maple Valley High School in 1979. She attended North Dakota State University, Fargo and in 1983 graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Food and Nutrition with a minor in Communications. After college she began her career with the North Dakota Department of Public Instructions in their School Foods Program. She married Jay Hochhalter on October 22, 1983 at the Tower City Presbyterian Church. The couple made their home in Regan, North Dakota where they farmed with Jays family. Jeanne continued to work with the North Dakota Department of Instruction. In 1986 they purchased a farm near Wing, North Dakota where they lived and farmed until 1991 when they moved to Killdeer, North Dakota. At this time Jeanne began her career with the NDSU Extension Service Mercer County in Beulah, North Dakota, working with the area 4"H Clubs and youth programs. In October of 1995 they returned to their farm at Wing. Jeanne continued with the NDSU Extension Service, this time in Sheridan County. In July of 2000 they moved to Barnesville, Minnesota. Jeanne began working for the City of Fargo and Richland County WIC programs, serving as Director in Richland County. In 2004 she returned to the NDSU Extension Service this time on the Fargo campus serving as a Specialist for the Early Family Nutrition Program. She continued in that position until her illness forced her to retire. Jeanne was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church and served as a Sunday school teacher. She was a past member of the Tower City Presbyterian Church where she was baptized and confirmed. Jeanne was a North Dakota Dairy Princess, 4"H Ambassador, and a Farm House Fraternity Little Sister on the NDSU campus. She was a member of the Barnesville High School Staff Development Committee. She was active in the Humboldt 4"H Club which her children belonged. Her kids were her lifes joyful gift. Jeanne centered her world around her children and their involvement in her life was everything to her. Their joy and presence in her life gave her strength and fulfillment to live well beyond medical expectations. She is survived by her husband Jay; three children, Zachary, Lisa and Bradley all at home in rural Barnesville; her parents, Durward and Phyllis Otterness of Tower City; one sister, Laurie (Paul) Shroeder of Fergus Falls, and their children, Mathew, David and Emily all at home in Fergus Falls; three brothers, Dean Otterness of Valley City, North Dakota, Duane Otterness of Tower City and Dana (Renee) Otterness of Lorton, Nebraska, and children Tiffany, Easton, Brayden and Brooklyn at home in Lorton. The family would like to encourage everyone to dress comfortably. Casual dress is welcome. The family would like everyone to be comfortable as we join in grieving the loss of Jeanne and the celebration of her life. dobmeierfuneralhome.com