Raymond Hovland

Raymond Harold Hovland, 85, passed away peacefully after a short illness, on Thursday, February 24, 2011. Ray was born July 7, 1925 in rural Erskine, MN. to John and Mabel (Hove) Hovland. He was raised and educated in the Erskine area until being drafted into the Army Air Corp in 1943. He flew 34 combat missions on a B24 Liberator bomber until the end of WWII. He was awarded the Air Medal with three oak clusters for valor. After returning to the United States, he enrolled in and graduated from Dunwoody Institute. On June 10, 1950, Ray married June Phyllis Underdahl in Maple Bay, MN. Ray and June made their home on a few acres outside of Detroit Lakes. Ray worked for the local Chevrolet dealership until 1967. He then worked for the Minnesota Highway Department as a heavy equipment mechanic until his retirement in 1990. Ray enjoyed traveling with his family throughout the western states and Canadian provinces. He enjoyed the outdoors, bird watching, woodworking, gardening, home projects, flying and attending air shows. Ray was an avid fisherman, traveling to Canada yearly for lake trout and out west for stream trout. Ray's favorite enjoyment was his motorcycles. He traveled many miles on his Harley Davidson, whether a short ride to work, a Sunday cruise of 200 miles, or long trips out west and into Canada. Ray will be remembered and missed by his two sons and daughter-in-law; Leslie (JoAnn) Hovland of Minnetonka, MN. and Eric Hovland of Big Lake, MN. He is survived by one grandson, Troy Bouley, of Manassas, Virginia, one sister; Margaret (Frank) Haberlach of Pharr, Texas, one sister-in-law; Arlys Lee of Mahnomen, MN., one brother-in-law; Don Josselyn, of Alamogordo, New Mexico and nine nephews and nieces. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mabel; his wife of 59 years; June, one infant son; Scott James and one infant daughter; Joan Marie.

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

Visitation
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Service
Saturday, April 2, 2011

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