Jay M. Hoffman

Jay’s celebration will be livestreamed below starting at 2:00 PM Monday, August 10, 2026:

Jay Hoffman passed away Thursday, July 16, 2026, at Essentia Hospital in Fargo, ND at the age of 64.

Jay Maynard Hoffman was born on July 2, 1962, the son of David Hoffman and Ronna Hoffman. Jay grew up in Rochester, MN and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1981 where he made his lifelong friend Pat Hokenson before graduating from Rochester Community College in 1983. He moved to Fargo with his family in 1987.

Jay was united in marriage to Mary Dahl on May 2, 1992, in Fargo. Together they made their home in Fargo where they raised their son Steven and daughter Bailey.

Jay worked at Bonanza Steakhouse in Rochester, MN where he learned his grilling skills and met his lifelong friends Dave Nelson and Ross Yates. After moving to Fargo, he worked at 7-11, a job where he could use his gift of gab. Jay joined the commercial painting trades working for Maynard Thorseth Painting & Decorating and Tony Eckert & Sons for several years.

Jay was so proud to be “Papa” to his granddaughter Palmer and used any chance he had to show off the latest picture and talk about her. Jay valued his family and friends and would spend hours hanging out, talking on the phone, or grilling meals for them. He also appreciated the friendships he shared over the years with the Hofstad family. Jay loved Minnesota Vikings football and proudly wore his Vikings gear all year long.

Jay is survived by his wife, Mary of Fargo; his son Steven Hoffman of Fargo; daughter Bailey (Devin) White and their daughter Palmer of Moorhead, MN, his father David (Jan) Hoffman of Melbourne, FL; his siblings Chris (Sherry) Hoffman of West Fargo, ND, Neil (Michelle) Hoffman of Grand Rapids, MN, Lynne (Kevin) Friezen of Moorhead, and Shellie Hoffman of Fargo; Mary’s family, Eldora Dahl of Beach, ND, Becky Dahl (Jeff Pierce) of Fargo, Judy (Amber) Dahl of Billings, MT, Susan (Corey) Dugan of East Grand Forks, MN, and Ken (Kate) Dahl of Fargo; as well as many nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles.

Jay was preceded in death by his mother Ronna; father-in-law Kenneth Dahl; his grandparents Maynard and Geneva Veum & Louis and Ethel Hoffman; his aunts Rainey and Ruth; and uncle Gary.

Jay will be remembered for his love of his friends and family, his yellow Mustang, and his love of the family lake cabin on Lake Melissa in Minnesota.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 PM Monday, August 10, 2026, at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center in Fargo – with a gathering one hour prior. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Fargo.