Herman A. Hovda — Grand Meadow

Herman A. Hovda, 92, of Grand Meadow, died at Spring Valley Senior Living on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Bear Creek Lutheran Church in rural Grand Meadow, Pastor Glen Bickford officiating, with burial in the church cemetery.

Visitation is on Friday, Sept. 6, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hindt Funeral Home in Grand Meadow, and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Herman Hovda was born June 6, 1921, to Thaulow and Amalia (Bengtson) Hovda in Racine Township. Herman served in the United States Army during World War II; he was very proud of his service. On June 8, 1947, Herman married Margaret Jahns at the Methodist Church in Spring Valley. For 25 years, Herman faithfully worked at IBM in Rochester in the tool makers crib. He was a member of the IBM Quarter Century Club. Herman also farmed near Grand Meadow.

He took pleasure in spending his time bowling, fishing, hunting, trapping, horseshoes and "teaching" people how to play cribbage at The Diner. Herman was the winner of the Minnesota League Bowling Tournament, and was inducted into the Minnesota Bowling Hall of Fame. Herman served many years as the commander of the Grand Meadow American Legion and was a member of the VFW. He served as past master of the Masonic Lodge. In his later years, Herman liked to gamble.

He is survived by his children, Steven H. (Julie) Hovda of Grand Meadow, Susan (Joe Granahan) Thompson of Spring Valley, Peter H. (Gloria) Hovda of Grand Meadow, Tracey Ann Hovda of Alexandria, Va.; a daughter-in-law, Pauline Radke of Oronoco; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; his siblings, Betsy Anderson and Oliver Hovda both of Grand Meadow, Hjalmer (Gretchen) Hovda of Progresso, Texas, Frieda (Harold) Jensen of Grand Meadow, Sky (Dar) Hovda of Wabasha and Molly (Howard) Paschke of Blue Earth.

Preceding him in death are his parents, wife, Margaret, son, Ted and sister, Margaret Close.

Online condolences may be left at hindtfuneralhomes.com .