Obituaries for May 15, 2003

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 15, 2003

Donna M. Hovda, 70

Donna M. (Mrs. Sky) Hovda, age 70, of Wabasha, formerly of Austin, died Tuesday, May 13, 2003, at her home. Her death was due to cancer.

She was born Sept. 9, 1932, in Hayfield, Minn., the daughter of Orlando and Olga (Loomis) Eastlee. She was a graduate of Hayfield High School and later attended beauty school in Minneapolis.

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She married Sky Hovda June 23, 1950, in West St. Olaf Lutheran Church at Rock Dell, Minn. The family lived in Grand Meadow until moving to Austin in 1957. She owned Donna's Beauty Salon in Austin and also was a real estate agent there. Her husband was a lineman for Freeborn-Mower Electrical Co-op. He retired in 1987. The couple moved to Sand Prairie, rural Wabasha in 1991.

She was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Wabasha. She enjoyed gardening, sewing and baking. She had an unconditional love and support for her family and always put them and others ahead of herself. She lived by the golden rule as well.

Donna is survived by her husband, Sky Hovda, Wabasha, Minn.; son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Cathy Hovda, Kasson, Minn.; daughters and son-in-law, Teri Jo Hay, Dallas, Texas; Camille and Jeff Lechnir, Kasson, Minn.; four grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Tully Hovda, and Bradley and Jessica Lechnir; brother and sister-in-law, Dale and Marilee Eastlee, Merced, Calif.; sisters, Kathleen Munger, Escondido, Calif.; Charlotte Jenson, Grand Meadow, Minn.; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 16, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church with the Rev. Barbara Knutson officiating. Interment will be in Bear Creek Lutheran Cemetery, near Grand Meadow. Casket bearers will be Ted Hovda, James Anderson, Kevin Kelley, Allen Eastlee, Eric Jensen and Hans Hovda. Friends may call at the Abbott Funeral Home in Wabasha on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. and at the church on Friday one hour before the service. The Abbott Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.