Edwin Hoff, 89, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 while working on his favorite hobby, an antique sawmill at the Central Washington Agricultural Museum in Union Gap.

Edwin was born on June 18, 1916, the first of four sons born to Olaf and Hilda Hoff on the family homestead near Bonetraill, North Dakota. Edwin's mother, Hilda Holstad Hoff, emigrated from a small farm near Tretten at Gudbrandsdalen, Norway. His father, Olaf Hoff emigrated with his parents from a farm near Bagn at Valdres, Norway.

In 1925 the family moved to a farm south of Dagmar, Montana. In 1936 the family moved to Western Montana. In 1937, Edwin, Maynard, and Alf went to work at a sawmill at Mosquito Creek. Later, they entered into a partnership with Charlie Pyatt and moved to Prospect Creek. In 1939, Edwin, Alf and Maynard built a home for their parents at Thompson Falls, Montana. Edwin, Maynard and Alf entered into a partnership with Walter McCurdy and were saw milling at Troy, Montana when World War II started. Alf and Maynard were drafted into the army and Edwin went to work at a defense plant, the shipyard at Tacoma, Washington.

In July 1947 Edwin joined the International Union of Operating Engineers and went to work as a heavy construction mechanic in Alaska.

Edwin returned to Washington State and married Gertrude Webb on July 3, 1951, at Tacoma, Washington. They lived in Moses Lake, Washington, where Edwin worked as a mechanic at an auto dealership.

In 1959 they moved to Kennewick and then to Pasco in 1960. Edwin worked as a heavy construction mechanic on many of the dams in Washington, and ended his career at JA Jones at Hanford with IUOE Local 370C in 1982.

In 1976, Edwin and Gertrude built a cabin at Driftwood Acres near Cle Elum. The family enjoyed many happy times cross country skiing, snowmobiling or walking through the woods looking for mushrooms.

After retiring from the Operating Engineers, he started Ed Hoff Construction and built homes in Pasco and Kennewick.

Edwin was a member of the Sons of Norway Tri-Cities Sol-Land Lodge #86. Edwin was ''the lutefisk cook'' for many of the club's annual lutefisk dinners, a job he enjoyed.

After Gertrude suffered a stroke, Edwin cared for her at home for seven years.

After Gertrude passed away, Edwin pursued his passion for ''things mechanical'' by joining the Central Washington Agricultural Museum at Union Gap and spending his Tuesdays working on the sawmill.

Edwin was a member of the International Dodge Brother's Club, where he was known as the 'Iron Man' because he would drive his 1922 Dodge Touring car to out-of-town meetings, rain or shine, top or no top. He spent many hours restoring his car. In July he was presented with two awards by the President of the International Dodge Brother's Club. He was very pleased with this recognition from his fellow members.

Edwin was an intelligent, compassionate person who was a strong supporter of the underprivileged. His favorite quote was by the Baltimore Sun columnist, H. Mencken. Mencken wrote in 1920, ''As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.''

Edwin is preceded in death by his mother, Hilda Haugton Hoff, his father, Olaf Hoff, his wife of 52 years, Gertrude Webb Hoff, and his brothers Alf and Olav.

Edwin is survived by his brother Maynard Hoff of Thompson Falls, Montana; his son-in-law and daughter, David and Ruth Mertz and his grandson Jason Edwin Mertz of Kennewick, Washington; and numerous nieces and nephews.

There will be a memorial celebration of Edwin's life on Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 2:00pm at the Central Washington Agricultural Museum, 4508 Main St, Union Gap, Washington.

Memorial contributions may be made to Edwin's favorite charities, The Carter Center, One Coppenhill Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307, or The Wilderness Society, 1615 M St, NW, Washington, DC 20036

The Carter Center strives to advance human rights and alleviate unnecessary human suffering.

The mission of the Wilderness Society is to deliver to future generations an unspoiled legacy of wild places.