Beth Almeda Hoeft

Beth Almeda Hoeft , 96 , of Loveland, Colorado passed away peacefully August 23, 2020. Born on August 22, 1924 to Fred and Flossie Dollison of David City, Nebraska; she grew up with her loving parents, brothers and sisters on the family farm. After high school graduation and a year of college at Nebraska Wesleyan University, she married her high school sweetheart, Walter Hoeft, on January 11, 1945. After Walt returned from serving in the U.S. Army in WWII, they settled in Lincoln, Nebraska where son Don and daughter Diane were born. While in Lincoln, Beth was employed as a telephone operator and later worked for the Elgin Watch Company and the Smith-Dorsey Pharmaceutical Corporation. Wanting to head west after a trip to Colorado, they then moved to Bridgeport, Nebraska where daughter Mary arrived. In 1956, Walt and Beth realized their dream of moving to Colorado when Walt found a job in the auto repair business at Davidson’s Chevrolet in Loveland. Walt managed the collision repair department for many years while Beth raised their children and then worked at Colorado Crystal and Hewlett-Packard. She became Walt’s secretary at Davidson’s for seven years until they retired in 1986 and moved to Tucson, Arizona. They had a wonderful time there enjoying the social life of their retirement community, Tucson Estates. Upon Walt’s passing, Beth moved to Mirasol in Loveland where she happily lived out the last eleven years of her life. She had many friendships in both Loveland and Tucson from an active life of golf, bowling, music, travel, reading, playing cards, volunteer work and church. She stayed close to the many friends she made throughout her life. Even in her later years, she had regular luncheon gatherings with friends who she golfed and bowled with many years before. Beth was a Methodist by birth, a Lutheran by marriage, and then once again a Methodist in her later years. Her faith was apparent in the way she lived her life with loving kindness. Family came first to Beth and she spoiled her family with great family meals. Keeping the family close was always at the top of her list and Facebook made this a lot easier for her! She enjoyed going to her family reunion every two years so that she could see her loved ones from around the country. She was an incredibly strong, independent, smart and loving woman. A personal accomplishment for her early on in her marriage was earning extra money by babysitting to buy her own Baldwin piano. She had always loved music, had taken piano lessons as a child and sang solos in high school, at church and at county fairs. She is survived by her sister, JoAnn Smith of Champlin, Minn.: son Don Hoeft and spouse Sergio Garcia of Palm Springs, Calif. and daughters Diane Blanco and spouse Juan of Windsor Colo. and Mary McCreary and spouse Bill of Loveland, Colo. Five grandchildren, Ruben Blanco and spouse Heather of Ft. Collins, Colo., Nick Blanco and spouse Susan of Windsor, Colo., Rachelle Haering and spouse Brad of Los Angeles, Calif., Liz McCreary and spouse Riyaz Gayasaddin of Denver, Colo. and Mac McCreary of Freiburg, Germany. Five great grandchildren, Avery Blanco, Sofi Blanco, Landon Blanco, Scarlett Blanco, and Oliver Haering. Many nieces and nephews along with their families, in-laws and an untold number of close friends and associates also survive to celebrate Beth’s life. Preceding her in death were husband Walt, daughter Karen, parents Fred and Flossie Dollison, brothers Myron and John Dollison and sister Doris Ball Paulson, and all of her siblings’ spouses. A private graveside service will take place at Resthaven Cemetary in Loveland where Beth’s ashes will be placed alongside those of her beloved husband, Walt. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at a later, safer date for friends and family to celebrate a life well-spent. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Pathways Hospice.