Laverne Hovde

La Verne D. Hovde, 76, of Webster City, died Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at his home with his family following a courageous battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Trinity Lutheran Church, with Rev. Mike Kroona officiating. Burial will be in the Roland Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday and prior to the service at the church on Monday. LaVerne Dale Hovde, son of Joseph and Mildred Christenson Hovde, was born October 2, 1934 at their home in rural Hardin County. As a young boy, the family moved to Roland where they made their home. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He was a member of the Roland Rockets basketball and baseball teams. Their basketball team was in the first televised boys state tournament. He graduated in 1953. He worked construction in Ames for a year and then was recruited to play for the Webster City Junior College Indians and was named to the All Tournament team. He later attended the University of Iowa. While attending junior college he lived at the Webster City Fire Station and worked as a volunteer fireman. He continued as a volunteer for 24 years. LaVerne also became a police radio operator and helped equip the city's first rescue vehicle. He began working part time for the city electric line department while in college and became full time in 1956. He continued to play basketball as part of the "Firehouse Five". He worked as a lineman and city electrical inspector until back problems from an electrical fall caused early retirement. On June 12, 1960, he married Georgia Sampson at Radcliffe. They made their home in Webster City where they raised their two daughters. LaVerne is survived by his wife of 51 years, Georgia; daughters and son-in-law, Debbie Lindeman of Rockwell City; Sharon and Paul Gerr of Maplewood, MN; sisters, Shirley Hovde of Roland; Marilyn Thompson of Boone; two nieces and a nephew; many cousins and friends. LaVerne served 21 years on the board of directors of the Municipal Credit Union holding most offices. He was a long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church. For over 20 years he enjoyed March trips to Florida to attend spring training baseball games and summer trips to Okoboji with his family. LaVerne was a devoted husband and loving father. He was a private, quiet man with a keen sense of humor and endless patience. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Ron Thompson. The family wishes to express their thanks to the in home Israel Hospice team and to Dr. Guffy and staff at the Bliss Cancer Center for all their compassionate and expert care.