James Iver Hovland, 83, passed into the hands of his Savior on January 24, 2018.
If Jim could speak to us all right now, he would ask us, politely, to stop reading the obituaries and move ahead to more cheerful, educational material, perhaps the comics. In partial honor of his wishes, and because of his great love for history, let’s call this column a history lesson.
Jim was born February 7, 1934. He grew up and worked on the family farm in northeastern South Dakota, traveling all of sixty miles to attend college, where he met Marie Beshara, the ever-lasting love of his life, whom he married in 1958. After graduating from KU Medical School and serving residencies and internships in Missouri, he returned to South Dakota to begin a decades-long mission of service as an OB/GYN specialist. He delivered thousands of children to the world and provided gentle care to every patient who entered his office. Courtesy and respect for all were his trademarks and his most treasured legacy.
In his spare time, Jim loved to hunt pheasants, paint, or turn a bowl on the lathe. He was an artist on canvas, wood, and bodily stitchery. A voracious reader, he could describe his day or ours by quoting from memory an array of literary passages, poems, and jokes. One of his favorite quotations came from George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Jim’s greatest source of pride came from his wife, grandchildren, and children. He gave his entire life to ensure our happiness, a mission at which he succeeded beyond all expectations. He did an especially good job at hiding his surprise when his sons married far above their stations. Way to keep a straight face, Dad! His children-in law would like everybody to know that Jim treated them like family members from the first day he met them.
Jim’s loving sister and her children will also miss his straight face and incisive, always entertaining commentary. We all mourn his passage, but Jim would strongly encourage us, as always, to honor his memory by reading the comics.
Margaret Thatcher said that “History is made by people: Its movement depends on small currents as well as great tides.” Jim would describe himself as a small current. To us and many others, he was a great tide.
Our family extends warmest thanks to Jim’s many caregivers during the twilight of his life. He received the same kind of compassionate care in those locations that he provided for his own patients. He loved all of his caregivers, and we know they loved him.
Should friends desire, contributions in Jim’s name may be sent to St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD.
