1921
Walter
2015
Walter Hofstetter
February 18, 1921 — December 20, 2015
Life Story for Walter Josef Hofstetter
Walter Hofstetter died peacefully at home on Sunday, December 20, 2015 with his wife of 62 years and family present.
Nearly 95 years old, Walter was born February 18, 1921 in Switzerland. He served in the Swiss Army during World War II, after which he immigrated to Canada and then to the United States, discovering Sun Valley in 1949. After joining the Sun Valley Ski Patrol he married his Swiss bride, Marianne, in 1953 and began raising a family in Ketchum.
He eventually was put in charge of the ski patrol and summer trail crew with whom he built many ski runs on Baldy such as Flying Squirrel, Lily Marlene and Sep’s Bowl. In the mid-1960’s he became a ski instructor, joining the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA). He enjoyed this work until his retirement in 1986.
Walter moved his family to a ranch on Silver Creek near Picabo, Idaho in 1965. The greatest love of his life was his family. He taught his six children to work together, to work hard, and to work with love.
Walter is survived by his wife Marianne, his children Conrad “Chrigel” (Lindy), Philip (Laurie), Victor (Dana), Heather (James) Dawson, Ingeborg (Valentin) del Real, Otmar (Denise), 14 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and many brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and cousins in Switzerland, New Zealand, and Australia.
A Rosary and Vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, Dec 23, 2015 all at St Charles Catholic Church in Hailey. Burial at Picabo Cemetery at 1:00 p.m., followed by meal at St Charles Parish Hall at 2:00 p.m.
Nearly 95 years old, Walter was born February 18, 1921 in Switzerland. He served in the Swiss Army during World War II, after which he immigrated to Canada and then to the United States, discovering Sun Valley in 1949. After joining the Sun Valley Ski Patrol he married his Swiss bride, Marianne, in 1953 and began raising a family in Ketchum.
He eventually was put in charge of the ski patrol and summer trail crew with whom he built many ski runs on Baldy such as Flying Squirrel, Lily Marlene and Sep’s Bowl. In the mid-1960’s he became a ski instructor, joining the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA). He enjoyed this work until his retirement in 1986.
Walter moved his family to a ranch on Silver Creek near Picabo, Idaho in 1965. The greatest love of his life was his family. He taught his six children to work together, to work hard, and to work with love.
Walter is survived by his wife Marianne, his children Conrad “Chrigel” (Lindy), Philip (Laurie), Victor (Dana), Heather (James) Dawson, Ingeborg (Valentin) del Real, Otmar (Denise), 14 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and many brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and cousins in Switzerland, New Zealand, and Australia.
A Rosary and Vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, Dec 23, 2015 all at St Charles Catholic Church in Hailey. Burial at Picabo Cemetery at 1:00 p.m., followed by meal at St Charles Parish Hall at 2:00 p.m.
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