Mrs. Marie Therese (Teasie) Hovland, 83, passed into the hands of her Savior on December 26, 2018.
Marie was born July 13, 1935. As the oldest of eleven children, her training for motherhood began at an early age. She took to the task with great vigor, the same way she approached and conquered nearly every obstacle in her path. After helping to raise her siblings, she traveled all the way across the state to attend college, where she met her future husband Jim, the ever-lasting love of her life, who preceded her in death in January of this year. After college graduation, Marie taught for several years at Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD.
Marie and Jim married in 1958, at which point she perfected her parenting and instructional skills. Mom gave her entire life to ensure our happiness, a mission at which she succeeded beyond all expectations. Every person who entered her house left a little bit smarter, fuller, happier, and cleaner, whether they liked it or not. We are so thankful that Mom stuck around for one more Christmas, a favorite holiday that she worked hard at every year to provide a special experience to all of us. We will miss her Irish stew immensely come St. Patrick’s Day, and we will always remember the way she could turn a pheasant into tetrazzini while filling the house with laughter.
The payoff for all Mom’s hard work came with the birth of eight grandchildren. Nieces and nephews number in the dozens. We all loved her unconditionally and will forever stand in awe of her ability to maintain perfect order at home and work without mussing her hair, clothes, or smile.
In addition to her successful career as wife and parent, Marie served as Jim’s office manager and supervisor. She earned a master’s degree in Special Education while raising four young children, and she served faithfully on the board of Pastor Harold Salem’s Christian Worship Hour for several decades. Marie also volunteered several semesters as an instructor at local schools. In her spare time, she watched countless adolescent sporting events, supervised Girl Scout meetings, and enjoyed socializing with dozens of colleagues at book, investment, and PEO Club gatherings. She was a woman of great faith who spent a lifetime building a reputation as a 100-pound dynamo, a huge personality in a petite package, a friend to everyone she met as long as they were nice to her kids and her husband.
Mom’s advice to all of us: “Don’t go to bed mad. Stay up and fight!” Mom stayed up and fought until she had nothing left: one last good example for us all.
Our family extends warmest thanks to Marie’s many caregivers during the twilight of her life. She received the same kind of compassionate care in those locations that she provided for her own children and grandchildren. She loved all of her caregivers, and we know they loved her.
Should friends desire, contributions in Marie’s name may be sent to Reach Literacy of Sioux Falls.
