June 2, 2010

Michael O. Hovet


Michael O. Hovet, 59, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, at the Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he had been going through treatment as an out patient following a diagnosis of esophageal cancer.
A funeral service was held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, on Dec. 2, 2009, where Mike and his family were active members, and had been welcomed into a loving Christian fellowship.
A Memorial Service for Mike will be held at the Spring Creek Lutheran Church, south of Watford City, on Highway 85, on Saturday, June 19, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. CST. Burial of cremains will follow at the cemetery.
“Mike” was born on April 6, 1950, along with his twin brother, Myron, to Olga (Marsten) and Walter Hovet, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Williston, N.D. Because he was born 10 minutes before his brother, he never let us forget that he was the oldest, which made him next in line for the same adult responsibilities as his big brother, Kurt. He was raised on the family farm south of Watford City, N.D., was a member of Spring Creek Lutheran Church, and attended the rural Hovet School through grade school. He was confirmed at First Lutheran in Watford City in 1965, and graduated from Watford City High School in 1968, where he was involved with sports, and was a delegate to Boys State.
During the summers of his high school years Mike worked for local farmers and ranchers. He especially enjoyed working for Clarence Danielson, because of his love for horses.
In the fall of 1968, he went to art school in Omaha, Neb., until the spring of 1969. On his return home he went to work for the Co-op Lumber in Watford City, and remained there until the fall of 1971, when he moved to Williston, registering in the drafting/designing program at UND – Williston, which was then located in the old Post Office on main street. He graduated from UND-W in May, 1973, with a degree in Architectural Design Drafting. Following his graduation he went to work for Blake & Zieske Architectural Firm in Williston for several years, designing homes and commercial buildings, which included the El Rancho Motor Hotel, the Trappers Kettle, the addition of Our Redeemers Lutheran Church, the McKenzie County Bank in Watford City, and the cafeteria at the W.C. Elementary School. More recently Mike was the design drafter of the new fellowship/education wing of his church, St. Luke’s Lutheran, which was dedicated in January of 2008.
From these experiences Mike made friends with people he worked with and never forgot, and still shared fond memories of them up until his death.
In 1978, Mike married Linda Kavanagh, and although this marriage ended in divorce, Mike was blessed with his daughter, Kristen.
Mike married Linda Kozakevich on Dec. 27, 1986, in Melville, Sask., Canada, and they made their home in Phoenix, Ariz. In 2001, Mike moved his family to Colorado Springs where they lived at the time of his death.
Mike was a “people person,” and loved meeting up with past acquaintances. He was a great conversationalist, and tried to see the good in all people. He had many passions. Apart from his family he loved horses, his dog, Teka, the Badlands, music, for sure baseball, football, and basketball. He had painted many pictures of outings which included himself, his brothers/friends, and all were on horses out in the Badlands. Mike was always on the “bucking” horse. Because music was a central part of his youth/family while growing up, he was a self-taught guitar player, had written music, and recorded a tape with his sister, Becky. He also still had all the baseball cards that he had collected as a boy of his favorite baseball players, namely the Minnesota Twins. In fact, in visiting with one of his sisters, he shared that he had always wanted to find an “original” Minnesota Twins cap.
Mike is survived by his mother, Olga Hovet, of Watford City, his wife, Linda, and children, McKenzee, Garrett, and McKayla of Colorado Springs, Colo., a daughter, Kristen and a grandson, Jade Davies of Vancouver, B.C.; He is also survived by nine brothers and sisters; Sonja (Einar) Prestangen, Watford City; Kurt (Rita) Hovet, Watford City; Beverly (Duane) Ashley, Williston; Cynthia Rust, Williston; Myron (Marcia) Hovet, Watford City; Randy (Vicki) Hovet, Charlo, Mont.; Rebecca (Andrew) Neuman, Drumheller, Albt., Canada; Steve (Paula) Hovet, Evans, Ga., and Tim Hovet, Bismarck, N.D.; many nieces and nephews, “favorite” aunts, and cousins.
Mike was preceded in death by his grand-parents, his father, Walter Hovet, and aunts and uncles.
Memorials may be sent to the Mike Hovet Memorial fund at St. Luke’s Lutheran, made out to “St. Luke’s Lutheran Church” – 5265 N. Union Blvd., Colo. Springs. Colo., - 80918; or to one’s own choosing.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER