12/08/2025
✨ Celebrating the Life of
Charlotte Ann “Char” Hodenfield ✨
We’d like to share a little of the beautiful life story of Charlotte Ann Hodenfield, lovingly known as Char. She is 91 years old and was born on September 27, 1934 in Sentinel Butte near Medora, carrying with her a heritage of Swedish, Irish, Scottish, and French roots—though she grew up enjoying plenty of traditional Scandinavian food.
Char spent her childhood moving across North Dakota, from Medora to Tioga at age six, and finally settling in Ray in 1946, which became her lifelong hometown. She was deeply shaped by the influence of her parents, as well as her Sunday school teachers and music teachers. Music became a defining part of her life—she played for school dances, small-town proms, and even joined a dance band during high school.
She worked at Minot Federal Savings and Loan, back when they first opened positions in Williston. She also loved square dancing, golfing in Ray, and playing bridge throughout her life.
Char met the love of her life, Erling Hodenfield, when he was a senior in high school and she was a freshman. Their story began at a little country church where Erling sang a solo through the window and asked her to come along with him. Years later, on January 30, 1955, they married in Ray—Erling even sang “God Gave Me You” as she walked down the aisle. They later spent 20 years living on a farm, building a life filled with love, music, and community. Char and Erling were married for 65 years, from 1955 until his passing in 2020 from Covid. His memory remains a cherished part of her story.
One of Char’s greatest lifelong gifts was her music. She played the organ for over 60 years, earning two awards recognizing her dedication (even though the awards only counted 50 years—she outplayed them all).
Her story is woven with family, faith, hard work, laughter, and music—and we feel grateful to honor the incredible woman she is.
