Claudia Boettcher Merthan, 92, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2025, in Eureka, SD.

A memorial service celebrating Claudia’s life is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, at 11:00 AM at the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Eureka led by Pastor LuCinda Haak. All are welcome to attend and honor Claudia’s remarkable life. Bearers will be Claudia’s sons—Thurn and Charles; Usher will be Wayne Lutz; pianist will be Orene Stickelmyer and Claudia’s granddaughter, Alex Bisson, will sing “Amazing Grace, how Sweet the Sound”. The family kindly requests memorials be directed to the Eureka Community Foundation, PO Box 242, Eureka, SD 57437 and the Eureka Pioneer Museum, PO Box 902, Eureka, SD 57437, two organizations that were close to Claudia’s heart.

Born on March 8, 1933, in Denver, Colorado, to Charles and Anna Lou (Pigott) Boettcher, Claudia lived a life full of purpose, faith, and deep connection. As a child, she attended the Kent School for Girls in Denver, where her love of reading, music, Rockies baseball, horses and cats began.

She graduated from The Masters School, an all girls high school in New York, in 1951. She then enrolled at the University of Colorado in Boulder as a music major. There, she met the love of her life, Leroy Hoffman. Claudia and Leroy were married in 1954.

Later that year, Leroy was drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed in Germany, where he and Claudia spent two years building their young life together. After Leroy’s honorable discharge, they returned to the United States and settled in New York, where they welcomed their first son, Edward Thurn Hoffman. The family later moved to New Jersey, where they welcomed their second son, Charles Boettcher Hoffman.

In 1966, the Hoffman family moved to Eureka. Claudia became deeply involved in St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, serving as choir director, Sunday School Superintendent, and Youth Group advisor. In 1973, she became the first woman elected to the Eureka School Board, where she proudly served for five years.

After a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, Leroy passed in 1980. Two years later, Claudia moved to Washington, D.C., where she pursued her love of learning by enrolling at American University. She earned a Master’s Degree in Political Science and met Larry Merthan, whom she married in 1984. Larry died in 1987.

In 1988, Claudia returned to Colorado, settling in Castle Rock. She joined First Plymouth Congregational Church in Denver, where she sang in the choir and remained an active member. In 1995, she met retired minister Ben Smith. They were married in 1996 and moved to a country home near Elizabeth, Colorado. Ben passed away suddenly in 1999.

A year later, Claudia returned to Denver and became active in the Boettcher Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by her grandfather. She served the Foundation for 21 years, including 15 years as Board Chair from 1992 to 2007.

In 2008, Claudia moved to Eureka  where she continued to live a life of service and joy. She volunteered in numerous roles, including secretary of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ and secretary of the Eureka Pioneer Museum. She also volunteered at the local library, enjoyed playing bridge with friends, was an active member of the Eureka Study Club, and shared her wit and wisdom through her column, “Claudia’s Corner,” published in the Northwest Blade.

Claudia leaves behind her two sons, Edward Thurn Hoffman and Charles (Dawn) Hoffman; her three grandchildren, Austin Hoffman, Alex (John) Hoffman Bisson, and Elizabeth (Rob) Hoffman Nicholas; their mother, Holly Hoffman; her step-granddaughter, Greta Seacat; and her great-grandchildren, Cohen and Theo Hoffman, Jackson and Avery Bisson, and Jane, Oliver, Nora, and Thomas Nicholas. Her nieces and nephews, Janet Fauth Bitz, Kathy Fauth Parisse, Sandy Fauth, Ann Fauth Keeley, Wade Fauth, Charlie Ohrel, Bernadette Ohrel Markoff, Kathy Ohrel Sjogren, and Terry Ohrel Perry. She is also survived by her dear friend, Margie Walker.

She was preceded in death by three great loves of her life: Leroy Hoffman, Larry Merthan, and Ben Smith. Her parents, Charles Boettcher II and Anna Lou Pigott Boettcher; her stepmother, Mae Boettcher; her sister, Ann Lou Boettcher Ohrel; her daughter-in-law, Sandra Seacat.

Claudia’s service will be livestreamed at the Lien Family Funeral Care Facebook page.

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Claudia lived her life by The Masters School Creed: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” She embodied that wisdom beautifully and wholeheartedly until her final breath. Her kindness, generosity, and unwavering faith will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by all who were blessed to know her.

Services are in care of Lien-Straub-Carlsen Chapel, Eureka.