Minnie Belle Hirn Hoag died peacefully at home under hospice care on 1 January 2007. She had been in declining health for several years, suffering from congestive heart failure. She was 91.
Minnie was the first child of Earl and Esther Hirn, and was born in the Hirn Ranch house by the banks of the Cimarron River near Arkalon in Seward County, Kansas on 22 January 1915.
Her sister, Leona Stewart, and her brother, William Hirn, preceded her in death as did her youngest son, Dr. Ray Hoag. Her husband, Warren B. "Sarge" Hoag , died in 1971.
She is survived by her oldest son, Paul Hoag of Liberal; two adopted daughters: Vickie Sexton of Lubbock, Texas and Margaret Elad of Kumba, Cameroon and Emporia, Kansas; and five grandchildren: Natalie Hoag James of Denver; Nancy Hoag of Fargo, North Dakota; Holly Foglesong of Dallas, Texas; Sarah Smith Holmes of San Diego, Califormia; and Chance Smith of Lubbock, Texas. During the last months of her life, she was helped immensely by the devoted assistance of longtime family friend, Keith Apsley, who treated her s his own mother.
Minnie always considered herself "a country girl" and from "pioneer stock." She "rode a horse to a one-room country school" and then attended Liberal High School. She absorbed her father's strong belief in education and had wanted to attend college, but quit high school during the Great Depression when she was offered a job at Woolworth. She gave half of her $9.49 a week wages to her father, so he would have the cash to pay taxes and keep the family ranch. Years later she finished her GED and worked hard to help her sons attend college.
Minnie was the first woman from Seward County. to join the Army in WW II. She said that she had always envied boys who could wear the uniforms, march, and travel with the Army. So when President Roosevelt signed the bill creating the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, Minnie volunteered the next morning and was enlisted on 1 September 1943 in Grunville, Texas. Minnie related how proud she was in basic training in Ft. Des Moines, Iowa to be standing in formation with the other women from Kansas, making a contribution to the war effort. When asked what was the best part of her military service, Minnie replied: "the people, all the people I met in the military."
Minnie was first stationed in Florida, where she worked on aircraft tracking boards. She often spoke about beautiful Miami and her exciting visit to Havana, Cuba. Later, while she was stationed in Texas, the famous Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congressman sam Rayburn, spotting the unusual sight of two young women in Army uniform, picked her and another WAC out of a crowd and placed them beside him at a luncheon's head table. Minnie loved to tell how "Mr. Sam" fussed over them.
Texas is where she met the Army sergeant who became her husband on 14 February 1945. Because married couples could not serve together, Sgt. Minnie left the Army and went with her soldier husband until his retirement in 1967. They were stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi; Wiesbaden, Germany; Great Falls, Montana; Denver. Colorado; Geneva, New York; Hahn, Germany; Bangor, Maine; and Minot, North Dakota. She wrote letters home describing her travels abroad, which were published in Liberal's Southwest Daily Times. Upon returning to Liberal, Minnie worked at Selfridge's Flowers, Matkin Cleaners, the Holiday Inn, and the Golden Derrick restaurant.
Minnie was famous with neighborhood children as a cookie maker. Her sons laughingly recalled how their friends would drop by to see if Minnie was making cookies. In Germany, she baked thousands of cookies for the children of an orphanage. Even when she was 75 and 80 years old, Minnie send cookies to a soldier friend deployed in Iraq and later in Bosnia. She deliberately sent so many cookies that there were plenty to share with his comrades, who awarded her the appreciation plaque of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command (NATO, Sarajevo, 1996).
At various time in her life, Minnie was active in Cub Scouts, the Civil Air Patrol, the PTA, NCO Wives Club, Coronado Museum, the Liberal Air Museum, and a volunteer for 25 years at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, as well as many other community projects. As one of her friends said: "Minnie is always helping someone." She was a member of Church Women United, American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and the First United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed helping teach the Golden Band Sunday school class for three decades. She was a member of the Eastern Star Lodge, and was a past president of the Rebeccahs. She was active in Book Club II, and a faithful bridge club member for forty years.
On her deathbed, in a moment of quiet reflection, Minnie explained that she "always had a way of including people and being attentive to people." Indeed, she was known as an unusually kind, generous, and sociable person, who will be missed by her many friends.
She liked to cook and to hold dinner parties. Often she would invite young, homesick soldiers for a good, home cooked meal.
When she lived in Wiesbaden, Germany after WWII and years later beside the railroad tracks in Liberal, no hungry stranger ever came to the door and left without food.
Her son, Paul, recalls: "Until I was sixteen, I thought all mothers were like my mother. But then I realized some kids had mothers who were not nearly as good and caring. I came to deeply respect and appreciate my mother as a special person, and understand how fortunate I am to have her as my mother."
* Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday at the First United Methodist Church in Liberal with the Rev. Jerry Odle presiding. Burial will follow at Arkalon Cemetery.
Military honors by Ft. Riley Honor Guard.
Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. and 8 to 11 a.m. Monday at Miller Mortuary.
Memorials are suggested to Liberal Hospice and may be sent in care of Miller Mortuary.
Minnie was the first child of Earl and Esther Hirn, and was born in the Hirn Ranch house by the banks of the Cimarron River near Arkalon in Seward County, Kansas on 22 January 1915.
Her sister, Leona Stewart, and her brother, William Hirn, preceded her in death as did her youngest son, Dr. Ray Hoag. Her husband, Warren B. "Sarge" Hoag , died in 1971.
She is survived by her oldest son, Paul Hoag of Liberal; two adopted daughters: Vickie Sexton of Lubbock, Texas and Margaret Elad of Kumba, Cameroon and Emporia, Kansas; and five grandchildren: Natalie Hoag James of Denver; Nancy Hoag of Fargo, North Dakota; Holly Foglesong of Dallas, Texas; Sarah Smith Holmes of San Diego, Califormia; and Chance Smith of Lubbock, Texas. During the last months of her life, she was helped immensely by the devoted assistance of longtime family friend, Keith Apsley, who treated her s his own mother.
Minnie always considered herself "a country girl" and from "pioneer stock." She "rode a horse to a one-room country school" and then attended Liberal High School. She absorbed her father's strong belief in education and had wanted to attend college, but quit high school during the Great Depression when she was offered a job at Woolworth. She gave half of her $9.49 a week wages to her father, so he would have the cash to pay taxes and keep the family ranch. Years later she finished her GED and worked hard to help her sons attend college.
Minnie was the first woman from Seward County. to join the Army in WW II. She said that she had always envied boys who could wear the uniforms, march, and travel with the Army. So when President Roosevelt signed the bill creating the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, Minnie volunteered the next morning and was enlisted on 1 September 1943 in Grunville, Texas. Minnie related how proud she was in basic training in Ft. Des Moines, Iowa to be standing in formation with the other women from Kansas, making a contribution to the war effort. When asked what was the best part of her military service, Minnie replied: "the people, all the people I met in the military."
Minnie was first stationed in Florida, where she worked on aircraft tracking boards. She often spoke about beautiful Miami and her exciting visit to Havana, Cuba. Later, while she was stationed in Texas, the famous Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congressman sam Rayburn, spotting the unusual sight of two young women in Army uniform, picked her and another WAC out of a crowd and placed them beside him at a luncheon's head table. Minnie loved to tell how "Mr. Sam" fussed over them.
Texas is where she met the Army sergeant who became her husband on 14 February 1945. Because married couples could not serve together, Sgt. Minnie left the Army and went with her soldier husband until his retirement in 1967. They were stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi; Wiesbaden, Germany; Great Falls, Montana; Denver. Colorado; Geneva, New York; Hahn, Germany; Bangor, Maine; and Minot, North Dakota. She wrote letters home describing her travels abroad, which were published in Liberal's Southwest Daily Times. Upon returning to Liberal, Minnie worked at Selfridge's Flowers, Matkin Cleaners, the Holiday Inn, and the Golden Derrick restaurant.
Minnie was famous with neighborhood children as a cookie maker. Her sons laughingly recalled how their friends would drop by to see if Minnie was making cookies. In Germany, she baked thousands of cookies for the children of an orphanage. Even when she was 75 and 80 years old, Minnie send cookies to a soldier friend deployed in Iraq and later in Bosnia. She deliberately sent so many cookies that there were plenty to share with his comrades, who awarded her the appreciation plaque of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command (NATO, Sarajevo, 1996).
At various time in her life, Minnie was active in Cub Scouts, the Civil Air Patrol, the PTA, NCO Wives Club, Coronado Museum, the Liberal Air Museum, and a volunteer for 25 years at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, as well as many other community projects. As one of her friends said: "Minnie is always helping someone." She was a member of Church Women United, American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and the First United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed helping teach the Golden Band Sunday school class for three decades. She was a member of the Eastern Star Lodge, and was a past president of the Rebeccahs. She was active in Book Club II, and a faithful bridge club member for forty years.
On her deathbed, in a moment of quiet reflection, Minnie explained that she "always had a way of including people and being attentive to people." Indeed, she was known as an unusually kind, generous, and sociable person, who will be missed by her many friends.
She liked to cook and to hold dinner parties. Often she would invite young, homesick soldiers for a good, home cooked meal.
When she lived in Wiesbaden, Germany after WWII and years later beside the railroad tracks in Liberal, no hungry stranger ever came to the door and left without food.
Her son, Paul, recalls: "Until I was sixteen, I thought all mothers were like my mother. But then I realized some kids had mothers who were not nearly as good and caring. I came to deeply respect and appreciate my mother as a special person, and understand how fortunate I am to have her as my mother."
* Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday at the First United Methodist Church in Liberal with the Rev. Jerry Odle presiding. Burial will follow at Arkalon Cemetery.
Military honors by Ft. Riley Honor Guard.
Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. and 8 to 11 a.m. Monday at Miller Mortuary.
Memorials are suggested to Liberal Hospice and may be sent in care of Miller Mortuary.
Minnie Belle Hirn Hoag died peacefully at home under hospice care on 1 January 2007. She had been in declining health for several years, suffering from congestive heart failure. She was 91.
Minnie was the first child of Earl and Esther Hirn, and was born in the Hirn Ranch house by the banks of the Cimarron River near Arkalon in Seward County, Kansas on 22 January 1915.
Her sister, Leona Stewart, and her brother, William Hirn, preceded her in death as did her youngest son, Dr. Ray Hoag. Her husband, Warren B. "Sarge" Hoag , died in 1971.
She is survived by her oldest son, Paul Hoag of Liberal; two adopted daughters: Vickie Sexton of Lubbock, Texas and Margaret Elad of Kumba, Cameroon and Emporia, Kansas; and five grandchildren: Natalie Hoag James of Denver; Nancy Hoag of Fargo, North Dakota; Holly Foglesong of Dallas, Texas; Sarah Smith Holmes of San Diego, Califormia; and Chance Smith of Lubbock, Texas. During the last months of her life, she was helped immensely by the devoted assistance of longtime family friend, Keith Apsley, who treated her s his own mother.
Minnie always considered herself "a country girl" and from "pioneer stock." She "rode a horse to a one-room country school" and then attended Liberal High School. She absorbed her father's strong belief in education and had wanted to attend college, but quit high school during the Great Depression when she was offered a job at Woolworth. She gave half of her $9.49 a week wages to her father, so he would have the cash to pay taxes and keep the family ranch. Years later she finished her GED and worked hard to help her sons attend college.
Minnie was the first woman from Seward County. to join the Army in WW II. She said that she had always envied boys who could wear the uniforms, march, and travel with the Army. So when President Roosevelt signed the bill creating the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, Minnie volunteered the next morning and was enlisted on 1 September 1943 in Grunville, Texas. Minnie related how proud she was in basic training in Ft. Des Moines, Iowa to be standing in formation with the other women from Kansas, making a contribution to the war effort. When asked what was the best part of her military service, Minnie replied: "the people, all the people I met in the military."
Minnie was first stationed in Florida, where she worked on aircraft tracking boards. She often spoke about beautiful Miami and her exciting visit to Havana, Cuba. Later, while she was stationed in Texas, the famous Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congressman sam Rayburn, spotting the unusual sight of two young women in Army uniform, picked her and another WAC out of a crowd and placed them beside him at a luncheon's head table. Minnie loved to tell how "Mr. Sam" fussed over them.
Texas is where she met the Army sergeant who became her husband on 14 February 1945. Because married couples could not serve together, Sgt. Minnie left the Army and went with her soldier husband until his retirement in 1967. They were stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi; Wiesbaden, Germany; Great Falls, Montana; Denver. Colorado; Geneva, New York; Hahn, Germany; Bangor, Maine; and Minot, North Dakota. She wrote letters home describing her travels abroad, which were published in Liberal's Southwest Daily Times. Upon returning to Liberal, Minnie worked at Selfridge's Flowers, Matkin Cleaners, the Holiday Inn, and the Golden Derrick restaurant.
Minnie was famous with neighborhood children as a cookie maker. Her sons laughingly recalled how their friends would drop by to see if Minnie was making cookies. In Germany, she baked thousands of cookies for the children of an orphanage. Even when she was 75 and 80 years old, Minnie send cookies to a soldier friend deployed in Iraq and later in Bosnia. She deliberately sent so many cookies that there were plenty to share with his comrades, who awarded her the appreciation plaque of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command (NATO, Sarajevo, 1996).
At various time in her life, Minnie was active in Cub Scouts, the Civil Air Patrol, the PTA, NCO Wives Club, Coronado Museum, the Liberal Air Museum, and a volunteer for 25 years at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, as well as many other community projects. As one of her friends said: "Minnie is always helping someone." She was a member of Church Women United, American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and the First United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed helping teach the Golden Band Sunday school class for three decades. She was a member of the Eastern Star Lodge, and was a past president of the Rebeccahs. She was active in Book Club II, and a faithful bridge club member for forty years.
On her deathbed, in a moment of quiet reflection, Minnie explained that she "always had a way of including people and being attentive to people." Indeed, she was known as an unusually kind, generous, and sociable person, who will be missed by her many friends.
She liked to cook and to hold dinner parties. Often she would invite young, homesick soldiers for a good, home cooked meal.
When she lived in Wiesbaden, Germany after WWII and years later beside the railroad tracks in Liberal, no hungry stranger ever came to the door and left without food.
Her son, Paul, recalls: "Until I was sixteen, I thought all mothers were like my mother. But then I realized some kids had mothers who were not nearly as good and caring. I came to deeply respect and appreciate my mother as a special person, and understand how fortunate I am to have her as my mother."
* Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday at the First United Methodist Church in Liberal with the Rev. Jerry Odle presiding. Burial will follow at Arkalon Cemetery.
Military honors by Ft. Riley Honor Guard.
Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. and 8 to 11 a.m. Monday at Miller Mortuary.
Memorials are suggested to Liberal Hospice and may be sent in care of Miller Mortuary.
Minnie was the first child of Earl and Esther Hirn, and was born in the Hirn Ranch house by the banks of the Cimarron River near Arkalon in Seward County, Kansas on 22 January 1915.
Her sister, Leona Stewart, and her brother, William Hirn, preceded her in death as did her youngest son, Dr. Ray Hoag. Her husband, Warren B. "Sarge" Hoag , died in 1971.
She is survived by her oldest son, Paul Hoag of Liberal; two adopted daughters: Vickie Sexton of Lubbock, Texas and Margaret Elad of Kumba, Cameroon and Emporia, Kansas; and five grandchildren: Natalie Hoag James of Denver; Nancy Hoag of Fargo, North Dakota; Holly Foglesong of Dallas, Texas; Sarah Smith Holmes of San Diego, Califormia; and Chance Smith of Lubbock, Texas. During the last months of her life, she was helped immensely by the devoted assistance of longtime family friend, Keith Apsley, who treated her s his own mother.
Minnie always considered herself "a country girl" and from "pioneer stock." She "rode a horse to a one-room country school" and then attended Liberal High School. She absorbed her father's strong belief in education and had wanted to attend college, but quit high school during the Great Depression when she was offered a job at Woolworth. She gave half of her $9.49 a week wages to her father, so he would have the cash to pay taxes and keep the family ranch. Years later she finished her GED and worked hard to help her sons attend college.
Minnie was the first woman from Seward County. to join the Army in WW II. She said that she had always envied boys who could wear the uniforms, march, and travel with the Army. So when President Roosevelt signed the bill creating the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, Minnie volunteered the next morning and was enlisted on 1 September 1943 in Grunville, Texas. Minnie related how proud she was in basic training in Ft. Des Moines, Iowa to be standing in formation with the other women from Kansas, making a contribution to the war effort. When asked what was the best part of her military service, Minnie replied: "the people, all the people I met in the military."
Minnie was first stationed in Florida, where she worked on aircraft tracking boards. She often spoke about beautiful Miami and her exciting visit to Havana, Cuba. Later, while she was stationed in Texas, the famous Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congressman sam Rayburn, spotting the unusual sight of two young women in Army uniform, picked her and another WAC out of a crowd and placed them beside him at a luncheon's head table. Minnie loved to tell how "Mr. Sam" fussed over them.
Texas is where she met the Army sergeant who became her husband on 14 February 1945. Because married couples could not serve together, Sgt. Minnie left the Army and went with her soldier husband until his retirement in 1967. They were stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi; Wiesbaden, Germany; Great Falls, Montana; Denver. Colorado; Geneva, New York; Hahn, Germany; Bangor, Maine; and Minot, North Dakota. She wrote letters home describing her travels abroad, which were published in Liberal's Southwest Daily Times. Upon returning to Liberal, Minnie worked at Selfridge's Flowers, Matkin Cleaners, the Holiday Inn, and the Golden Derrick restaurant.
Minnie was famous with neighborhood children as a cookie maker. Her sons laughingly recalled how their friends would drop by to see if Minnie was making cookies. In Germany, she baked thousands of cookies for the children of an orphanage. Even when she was 75 and 80 years old, Minnie send cookies to a soldier friend deployed in Iraq and later in Bosnia. She deliberately sent so many cookies that there were plenty to share with his comrades, who awarded her the appreciation plaque of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command (NATO, Sarajevo, 1996).
At various time in her life, Minnie was active in Cub Scouts, the Civil Air Patrol, the PTA, NCO Wives Club, Coronado Museum, the Liberal Air Museum, and a volunteer for 25 years at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, as well as many other community projects. As one of her friends said: "Minnie is always helping someone." She was a member of Church Women United, American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and the First United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed helping teach the Golden Band Sunday school class for three decades. She was a member of the Eastern Star Lodge, and was a past president of the Rebeccahs. She was active in Book Club II, and a faithful bridge club member for forty years.
On her deathbed, in a moment of quiet reflection, Minnie explained that she "always had a way of including people and being attentive to people." Indeed, she was known as an unusually kind, generous, and sociable person, who will be missed by her many friends.
She liked to cook and to hold dinner parties. Often she would invite young, homesick soldiers for a good, home cooked meal.
When she lived in Wiesbaden, Germany after WWII and years later beside the railroad tracks in Liberal, no hungry stranger ever came to the door and left without food.
Her son, Paul, recalls: "Until I was sixteen, I thought all mothers were like my mother. But then I realized some kids had mothers who were not nearly as good and caring. I came to deeply respect and appreciate my mother as a special person, and understand how fortunate I am to have her as my mother."
* Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday at the First United Methodist Church in Liberal with the Rev. Jerry Odle presiding. Burial will follow at Arkalon Cemetery.
Military honors by Ft. Riley Honor Guard.
Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. and 8 to 11 a.m. Monday at Miller Mortuary.
Memorials are suggested to Liberal Hospice and may be sent in care of Miller Mortuary.
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