Allen Hovey

Allen "Ole" D. Hovey, age 82, of Atwater, died Saturday afternoon, April 21st, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.
A memorial service will be held at 2 P.M., Saturday April 28th, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Atwater. The interment will be at 12 noon Saturday, April 28th, at Union Cemetery in Atwater. Military Honors will be provided by the Samstad-Jensen American Legion Post 375 of Atwater. Visitation will be from 5-7 P.M. Friday at the Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home. (www.petersonbrothers.com)
Allen Duaine Hovey was born on May 9, 1929 in Litchfield, Minnesota, the son of Martha J. (Johnson) and Irvin E. Hovey. He grew up in the Atwater area and received his education there, graduating in 1947. Allen lettered in football, basketball and baseball and was named most valuable Senior Athlete. He farmed for a time and played amateur baseball with a semi pro team for Atwater. In 1950, he started working for the Atwater Post Office as a clerk. In 1951, Allen entered the Army and served until 1953. On April 7, 1952, he was married to Muriel E. Johnson at the Blomkest Baptist Church, they made their home in Atwater and Allen completed his military time. After his discharge from the service, he continued working for the Atwater Post Office and retired in 1984 as Post Master. Ole was active in his community, coaching Legion Baseball, Summer Recreation Baseball in the 1960's and later assisted the high school coach. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling and was a State Champion in Horseshoes. He also enjoyed a good game of Whist or Cribbage.
Allen was a former member of the First Baptist Church in Atwater, a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Atwater, had been the treasurer for the Atwater Lions, Sec.-Treas. of the West Central Horseshoe League, Sec-Treas. of the Atwater Gun Club, adjutant for Atwater Legion, treas. and trustee for First Baptist Church for many years and member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.
He is survived by two sons; Dwayne Hovey of Atwater and Dean (and Shellie) Hovey of Dayton and one daughter; Jan Keehn (and fiancé John Livingston) of West St. Paul. Ole is also survived by three grandchildren; Chad Keehn, Tiffany Hovey and Evan Hovey, two brothers; Glen (and Marsha) Hovey of Atwater and Wyman (and Linda) Hovey of Dewey, Illinois and three sisters; Sharon (and John) Holm of Atwater, Shirley (and Paul) Peterson of Cosmos and Twyla (and James) Ashburn of Spicer. Ole was preceded in death by his parents, wife in 1994, one daughter; Jane Hovey, three brothers; Kermit, Dennis and Lloyd Hovey and two sisters; Norma Buer and Marilyn Johnson.
Ole will be greatly missed by his family, friends and community.