"May The Blessings Be"

On January 22, 2025, Jennifer Leah (Stadler-Hoffman) Lee, 72, died at home, peacefully in her sleep, when her heart stopped.  Quite simply, her heart was broken after the loss of her husband, Jim Lee, and then her mother, followed by a wretched virus that pushed her heart to the very limit.

Jennifer was born November 19, 1952, in Mitchell, SD to a Kimball farm/ranch couple, Donald Stadler and Irma (Hawn) Stadler, the 4th of 12 children.  She loved her childhood years living on the farm with her siblings, going to country school and then high school in Kimball.  After high school, Jennifer moved to Vermillion where she met and married Jeff Hoffman, with whom she had 2 children.  They moved to Spearfish in 1979.

Jennifer raised her daughters as a single parent, first working at Pope and Talbot Sawmill.  Then, she worked as a daycare provider so she could be home with her girls.  She went on to get her Associates Degree from BHSU, and then put that degree to work at the Forest Service, all while teaching her teenage daughters how to be strong and independent.

She met the love of her life, Jim Lee, in 1997.  After they retired, they spent 7 years adventuring on a Catamaran sailboat and in a RV, including one year in Ireland on the boat.  They returned to Spearfish in 2008 to be with their children and grandchildren.  Jennifer spent many of her retired years as a caregiver for friends and family.  In 2017, she took on a new adventure and purchased the Secret Garden Bed and Breakfast with her daughters and their younger stepsister.

Jennifer's hobbies were gardening, raising hens, reading, camping and spending time with her grandchildren.  Jennifer had a gift for making something out of nothing, such as building her girls' bunkbeds out of scrap wood from the sawmill, or a window seat to keep an eye on her chickens; making ice cream out of snow or sculpting a snowman so creative it made front page news.  Her special talents included enthralling her grandchildren with spontaneous stories and fantasies, creating treasure hunts for young and old, and writing songs and poems for loved ones.  Jennifer was often called a "punny girl" - she was very entertaining with her quick wit, and her puns never disappointed as they drew both laughter and groans.

Jennifer (Granny) is remembered with love by her daughters, Lynette (Stacey) Thorstenson, Sioux Falls, Samantha (Randy) Finkbeiner, Spearfish, Sonya (Chris) Donovan, Spearfish, step-daughters, Shannon Rochel, Gallatin, MT, Tristin Lee, Laramie, WY, Stephanie (Rik) Bartels, Belle Fourche, and her grandchildren, Jenna Thorstenson, Kyra Thorstenson, Lydia Donovan, John Finkbeiner, and Vivian Donovan, her brothers and sisters Vicki Silvis, Donna (Steve) McCullough, David (Kris) Stadler, John (Jo Ellen) Stadler, Judith (David) Munger, Patricia (Dennis) Arnold, Pamela Sharping (Arch), Roberta (Kurt) Thomas, Robert (Theresa) Stadler, Donald (Eryn) Stadler, and Teresa (Chad) Olson as well as many, many, many, many, many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be on March 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM at 2281 E Colorado Blvd (formerly Roma's Restaurant) in Spearfish.