Dr. Betty Lou Hoffman, DDS

Betty was born in the Village of Kellogg, Minnesota, on March 21st, 1929 to the late Lawrence and Olivia Honer. She was the oldest of five girls.

On August 6th, 1955 she married Bruce Hoffman in Long Beach, California. Together they raised Bruce’s son Dennis. Thirteen years after Bruce and Betty were married, Betty gave birth to their daughter, Michelle.

As a member of the class of 1947, Betty graduated with honors from Wabasha High School, in Minnesota. She continued her schooling and graduated as an RN in 1950 from St. Barnabas School of Nursing. Following her nursing training, she attended USC School of Dentistry.

In 1963, Betty earned her B.S. in Dental Hygiene; she was recruited by USC upon graduation to be a Clinical instructor, until 1967.

In 1973, Betty was one of only three women, and the oldest in her class, at forty-five, to be accepted into the USC School of Dentistry.

USC promoted Betty to Assistant Professor in 1967. While attending working for the university, she “accidentally” earned her M.Ed Psych degree in 1975. Betty graduated with her DDS from USC School of Dentistry in 1978. USC once again asked Dr. Hoffman to remain a part of the College as a Clinical Assistant Professor. Along with her duties as a Professor, Betty accepted a position with LA County / USC Medical Center.

She was quickly promoted to Senior Dentist in 1980, and then again to Associate Director of the GPR Program in 1983. In addition to her duties at the LA County / USC Medical Center, Betty became a Deputy Coroner at the LA County Coroner’s office in 1983.

When asked what she wished to do when she graduated from high school, she told her parents her goal was to attend medical or dental school. Their reply was, “No, that is for boys, not girls, and we do not have enough money to send you to school.” With money that she saved in her “piggy bank” (around $300.00), Betty entered St. Barnabas School of Nursing, knowing, even then, that she did not have enough money to finish the program. The nursing program allowed students to work extra shifts during their last year of training.

The first eight-hour shift was for the nursing program and the second eight hour shift was a paid position making $1.00 an hour. This made for a sixteen-hour day. She knew this was hard work, however it was the first of many steps towards her goal of medicine or dentistry. Betty was never boastful about her accomplishments, yet she impacted many people through her actions.

Her perseverance, intelligence, and confidence were displayed by how she lived her life. After retiring in June of 1994 from LA County / USC Medical Center, Dr. Betty Hoffman DDS gave her time and attention to the Garden Grove Assistance League working in their dental clinic for those in need. These actions earned her the Silver Spoons Volunteer Award in 2004. Dr. Hoffman was known to those around her as diligent, compassionate, caring, and intelligent.

She was a beloved woman, teacher, mentor and dentist. Betty had many hobbies to include gardening, photography, and painting. One of her greatest joys of the latter part of her life was helping to care for her granddaughter, Olivia.

Betty is survived by: her daughter, Michelle Van Winkle, sisters, Ruth Roessler, Beverly Bren, Janice (John) Shaffer, granddaughters, Olivia Van Winkle, Paulette (Donovan) Aurand, Holly Hoffman, Larissa (Nick) Nolte, grandson Eric (Bonnie) Hoffman, and many great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by: her parents, Lawrence and Olivia Honer, her husband of 49 years, Bruce Hoffman, her son, Dennis Hoffman, and sister, Shirley Weil.

Visitation will be Saturday August 15th, 2020 from 5 - 8 pm in the Main Chapel at Westminster Memorial Park Mortuary, located at 14801 Beach Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683.

We will not be having a Memorial Service due to Covid-19.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be directed to the Garden Grove Assistance League at 10932 Trask Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92843

Services under the direction of Westminster Memorial Park Mortuary (714) 893-2421.

Due to State and Local Mandate regarding COVID-19, only a limited number of people are permitted to attend. Please call for further information.