Erika Jolene Hoefer, 27

Erika Jolene Hoefer, 27, of Kalispell, and formerly of Beloit, Wis., died Sunday, June 27, 2010, in Western Montana. Erika was born Oct. 7, 1982, in Beloit, the daughter of William and Candy Meyers Hoefer. She was a 2001 graduate of Parkview High School, Orfordville, Wis., where she set the new high jump record, participated for two years at the state track meet, took third place in the high jump for Division II Schools in 2001, and represented Parkview at the Badger State Girls Conference. Erika was a 2005 graduate of Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, where she was a member of the track team. She worked her way through high school and college as a waitress at area restaurants, including Domenico s and LaCasa Grande. Erika was employed by American Girl magazine, Merideth Corporation s Special Interest Publications Department, the Drake Campus newspaper as a photo editor, creative director of Drake s Launch magazine, Beloit Daily News, Pioneer Press, Northshore Magazine, Make It Better magazine, and most recently by the Daily Inter Lake newspaper in Kalispell. She was a member of Atonement Lutheran Church, Beloit, Wis., and the American Business Women. Erika enjoyed her many adventures with her college friends from Drake and her new friends from Kalispell with whom she enjoyed hiking. She also enjoyed the city of Chicago and all it had to offer. Erika especially loved spending time with her family and friends. She was a very creative person whose talents included sewing, knitting, graphic design and designing her own cards and gifts. Survivors include her parents, William D. and Candy K. Hoefer, of Beloit; sister, Jessica L. Hoefer, of Beloit; brother, Kyle W. Hoefer, of Beloit; grandmother, Marlene Meyers, of Orfordville; uncles, James and Debra Meyers of Folsom, Calif., Paul Meyers, Robert and Tina Meyers, and Kevin Joe and Shona Meyers, all of Orfordville; aunts, Laurie and Steve Hazeltine of Orfordville, and Robin Hoefer of Beloit; cousins, Hillary and Catherine Hazeltine, Jordann, Siddalee, Josephine, Krystal and Kyra Meyers, all of Orfordville, Abraham Leach of Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Jackson Meyers of Folsom. She was predeceased by her grandfathers, Robert K. Meyers and Vineyard Dwain Hoefer; grandmother, Phyllis Richter; and aunt, Rebecca Hoefer. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 15, in the Atonement Lutheran Church, 901 Harrison Ave., Beloit, with Pastor Tina Koenig Ray officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Daley Murphy Wisch & Associates Funeral Home and Crematorium, 2355 Cranston Road, Beloit. Private inurnment will be in the Orfordville Lutheran Cemetery at a later date. A memorial will be established in her name at a later date. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.daleymurphywisch.com.