Michael "Mike" Hoeft, age 66, from Erskine, MN passed away on Friday, January 7th at Riverview Hospital in Crookston, MN. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 14th at 2:00 PM at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine with Rev. Timothy Lundeen officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at Grace Lutheran Church. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery, rural Erskine, and the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Erskine is in charge of the arrangements. Sympathy messages may be sent at www.carlinhoialmen.com.Michael Charles Hoeft was born on February 19, 1944 to parents Charlie and Muriel (Hallas) Hoeft in Crookston, MN. He grew up in Erskine, MN, where he graduated from Erskine High School in 1962. Following graduation, Mike worked in the Twin Cities for Control Data as well as helping out at Ness Café something he had done since he was 8 years old. In 1967 Mike purchased the Ness Café with his brother Jerry from Bob and Aimee Ness. He purchased his brother Jerry's interest in the business the following year and successfully operated the Ness Café which at that time included a bowling alley in Erskine, MN with his wife Diane for over 35 years. He also was a Real Estate Agent working for Ken Olmscheid Realty and Chuck Stuhaug Realty and owned several other businesses including Mike's Furniture and the Erskine Machine Shop. Mike was united in marriage to Diane Torkelson on November 23, 1968, at Rodnes Lutheran Church, rural Erskine, MN. Following their marriage they both joined Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine, MN.Mike enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, golfing and especially his elk hunting trips to Montana, but bowling was Mike's passion, he was a member of the American Bowling Congress 299 and 800 clubs. He also enjoyed shooting pool and visiting with many friends over the years. He had a love for old cars and was always wheeling and dealing, his last project was a 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS which he was very proud of. Mike was a Staff Sargeant in the North Dakota Air National Guard from 1965-1971. He served on the Erskine Volunteer Fire Department for over 25 years, the Erskine Commercial Club, the Erskine City Council and the Erskine Economic Development Authority. He was a 40 year member of the Erskine American Legion Post 596, the Erskine Lion's Club, the Erskine Trap Shooting Club as well as a member of the Crookston Fraternal Order of Eagles. Mike passed away on January 7, 2011 at Riverview Hospital in Crookston at the age of 66 years. He was a resident of the Riverview Care Center for the past two years. He is survived by his wife, Diane of Erskine, MN; two children, Michelle (Daniel) Miller of New Hope, MN and Stephanie Helgeson of Mentor, MN. Five brothers and four sisters; Doug Hoeft of Glendale Heights, IL, Jerry Hoeft of Minneapolis, MN, Pat Anenson and her husband Vern of Thief River Falls, MN, Kathy Midboe and her husband Dallas of Thief River Falls, MN, Marilyn Novak and her husband Leonard of Warren, MN, Dorothy Seidel and her husband Mike from Roseau, MN, Twin Brothers Paul and John Hoeft of Minneapolis, MN, and Thomas (Tucker) Hoeft and his wife Jan of Big Sandy, TX; as well as many other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Muriel Hoeft, brothers Russ and Charles (Chuck) Hoeft and one grandson Stephen Miller. Blessed be his memory.