Donald Hovde
Donald A. Hovde, 68, passed away suddenly Thursday, March 24, 2011, at his home in Melrose, N.M.
Don was born in Williston, N.D., on March 31, 1942, to Alfred and DoLores Hovde of Arnegard, N.D. He grew up on the family farm and attended school in Arnegard through his sophomore year, and graduated from high school in Missoula, Mont., in 1960. After a year at the University of Montana, Don enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served for over 20 years, part of which was aboard the USS Hornet and the USS Ranger.
In 1962, he married Barbara Sunderland, whom he had met while training at the Memphis Naval Air Station. They had four children, and were later divorced. In 1982, Don and his soulmate, Norma Jean Jarrell, were married in Shelton, Wash., and spent many happy years in the Port Orchard, Wash., area before moving to New Mexico in 1999.
Don was an expert sailor. He and Jean lived aboard one of their sailboats for several years and enjoyed many trips on the waters of Puget Sound and around the San Juan Islands. He had also obtained a private pilot’s license and had designed and started building his own plane.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a stepson, Johnny Pat Williams.
He is survived by his wife, Jean, at their home in Melrose; daughters and son-in law, Tiffany and Bill Cicero of Portales, N.M., and Rita and Carl Comfort, of Langley, Wash.; sons, A.J. Hovde of Akron, Ohio, and Donald Hovde II, of Alpharetta, Ga.; stepson, Jarrell Williams, and his wife, Vickie, of Clovis, N.M.; sister, Karen Hertzog, of Missoula, Mont., and brother, Larry Hovde, of Gillette, Wyo.; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He also left behind a large family of rescued dogs and cats.
Cremation has taken place, and no services are planned at this time. His ashes will be interred at Timber Creek Cemetery at a later date.