Howard Hove

Howard Joseph Hove, 84, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away

July 17, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Osnabrock, North Dakota.

Howard was born April 14, 1925 in Osnabrock Township, Cavalier County, the

son of Hans and Julia (Erickson) Hove and the grandson of Norwegian immigrants who homesteaded in 1884 in Cavalier County. He was baptized and

confirmed in Highland Lutheran Church, rural Fairdale. He attended Osnabrock

Township Consolidated School and graduated from Nekoma High School in 1944.

He was very active in 4-H and in basketball. The following year (1944-45) he

coached the Nekoma High School basketball team. Later he farmed with his

father.

He married Marion Wiken at the Sharon Lutheran Church in Grand Forks on June 22, 1952. They have two sons: Michael (Brenda) of Bismarck and Mark (Ingrid) of Devils Lake. He enjoyed the lives and interests of his four grandchildren: Matthew, Benjamin, Erik, and Brooke. Howard was interested in sports, especially basketball which he played during and after high school. He also played baseball, bowling, snow skiing, water skiing and horse shoe. He was a lifelong hunter and sportsman.

He was a recipient of the Eastern Cavalier County Soil Conservation Award, Take Pride in America Award, Centennial Farm Award, 1995 Tree Steward Award, and American Tree Farm System Award.

Howard was active in his community and state. He served on the Agassiz Health

Systems Agency for 22 years, was appointed by Gov. Link and was reappointed

by Gov. Olson to the State Health Coordinating Council. He also served on the

United Hospital Corporate Board in Grand Forks for 8 years. Howard served on

the Nekoma Elevator Board for 15 years (10 years as president). Howard was a

Lutheran Brotherhood branch officer for 26 years. He Served on the Tri-County

School Reorganization Board for 6 years, and the Cavalier County Job

Development for 5 years. He was president of the Osnabrock Good Samaritan

Board for 6 years. Howard was active in the District #10 Republican party and

was elected to the N. D. State House of Representatives and served in the 1979-

1980 Legislature.

He organized and coached the Osnabrock Township Pee-Wee and Babe Ruth

baseball teams, which won the Cavalier County championships for 3 consecutive

years. He also played amateur baseball in Canada and Cando. Howard was a

committeeman for the Nekoma Boy Scout Troop. Howard was a member of the Highland Lutheran Church until it closed in 1976, and since then has been an active member of Dovre Lutheran Church in Osnabrock, serving on the church council, the stewardship committee, the call committee, and as a voting delegate to the Eastern N. D. synod assembly. In addition to his farming interests, Howard owned and operated Hove Construction Co., and later Hove Insulation, Inc. He built and remodeled many homes in eastern North Dakota. He also built a trailer court in 1970 during the ABM construction, which he eventually incorporated into a city which he named “Hove Mobile Park City”.

In his retirement, he enjoyed wood working, and built many china cabinets,

tables, cedar chests, plates and bowls for his family and friends. He owned his

own sawmill, which he used for making lumber out of the ash trees planted by his

grandfather in 1884 on the family farm. His shop was his favorite spot. And next

came his boat. After winters in his shop, he was eager to go boating on Maple

Lake and Devils Lake; and teach his sons, nephews, and grandchildren the thrill of water skiing! Howard enjoyed a very full and active life. He will be deeply missed by his loving family and many cherished friends.

Howard is survived by his wife Marion, sons: Michael (Brenda) Hove of Bismarck and Mark (Ingrid) Hove of Devils Lake, grandchildren: Matthew of Visalia, CA; Benjamin of Los Angeles, CA; Erik of Devils Lake and Brooke of Devils Lake, ND; foster sisters Bella Hammer of Grafton and Ardelle (Donald) Krom of Grafton, N.D.; brother-in-law Lyle (Marion) Wicken of Grand Forks and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Elmer Hammer, sister-inlaw Gloria (Newell) Anderson, and brother-in-law Newell Anderson.

Services will be held at Dovre Lutheran Church in Osnabrock N.D. on July 29, at

2:00 PM. Visitation will be at Books Funeral Home in Langdon N.D. on July 28

from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Burial will be in

Highland Lutheran Cemetery, rural Fairdale.

The Hove family wishes to thank the Osnabrock Good Samaritan Center for the

excellent care given to Howard during his last four months.