Howard Jean Hovey was born on October 12, 1924 on the Tuttle place near Stuart, NE, the third child of William "Bill" & Rose Mary (Moon) Hovey.  Howard passed away at the Winner Nursing Home at the age of 91 on Saturday, July 30th.

His childhood memories were filled of stories of farming and ranching until the Depression struck and then he vividly remembered helping his father drive the last herd of cattle to town to be sold when the feed ran out.

At age 16 the economy started to recover and Howard started working at the Fox Farm outside of Stuart, playing pool in the bunkhouse with his coworkers at the end of the workday.

Howard bought his first car, a Model T for $19, and soon a love of automobiles ensued until he traded a Model A and $100 for an Indian Motorcycle, which he used to ride up to Naper to the dancehall.  There he met Opal Goodman and at one of the following dances, Opal introduced Howard to her sister, Marjorie June.  The two were together at all the dances from there on out and were married on March 14, 1943 in the home of June's grandparents, Frank & Sallie Green on the farm west of Naper.

Before Howard & June could settle into married life, Howard was called away to the war.  He boarded the battleship Missouri in San Francisco and headed for the South Pacific.  En route, the Missouri was attacked unsuccessfully by a Japanese Sub, delaying their arrival, and after 27 days at sea they ported at New Caledonia in New Guinea and were sent to the Guadelcanal in the Solomon Islands.  He was a surgical technician and was called "Doc Hovey", serving with the 164th Infantry.  Howard went to Bougainville and his unit found themselves up against 10,000 Japanese.  From Bougainville they were sent to the Philippines and were always on the march with no relief from the heat.  Howard was hospitalized for Malaria, Hepatitis and battle fatigue and almost didn't pull through.  When he recovered he had to make his own way back to his unit and they were on the other side of the island.

The 164th was sent to Japan and the atomic bomb was dropped ending the war.  Howard was discharged with a T5 rating and came home by ship from Japan to Seattle and back into June's arms, where he met his little girl Madonna Jean.

Howard & June bought a farm south of Herrick and raised cattle, hogs, chickens and ducks, milked cows and sold cream and eggs.  They raised some crops for feed and put up hay.  Bobby Dean, Alvin Edward, Gary Glen, Larry Joe and Dean Ray completed their family.

Trying to support his growing family, Howard worked construction and was on the crew that built Big Bend Dam on the Missouri River at Ft. Thompson, SD, where he often fished for his supper, a hobby he loved dearly.  He also helped build a church in Hill City, the Dallas Elevator, the Gregory Nursing Home, Burke Elementary School and the Burke Catholic Church.

After a car wreck with a semi, Howard moved into an apartment in Burke and when his health began to decline he moved to Golden Prairie Manor in Winner and eventually the Winner Nursing Home.

Left behind after his passing are Madonna & Neal Peterson of Greeley, CO; Bob Hovey of Norfolk, NE; Gary & Raedene Hovey of Reliance, SD; Larry Hovey of South Sioux City, NE; Dean Hovey of Herrick; daughter-in-law Vicky Hovey of White River; brother Dudley & Betty Hovey of Oklahoma City, OK; ten grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife June, his son Alvin,  his parents, siblings and their spouses-Richard & Marjorie Hovey; William Harrison Hovey; Rose Marie & Archie Bright; Selena Bell & Dick Kazda; sister-in-law Louise Hovey and daughter-in-law Judy Hovey.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 10:30 AM at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, SD.  Burial will be in the Herrick Cemetery, Herrick.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday at Clausen Funeral Home from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM.