Janice M. Hovey

Janice M. Hovey, 83, of LeRoy, Minn., died on Friday, April 5, 2024, at Wildwood Grove in LeRoy. 

On the night of March 31, 1941, Janice Marie was born to Arthur and Winnie (Vrieze) Ramaker. At 11:40 p.m. they finally got their girl. Before that, they had three boys: Duane, Arlyn and William “Bill.” She was baptized and confirmed at the Cherry Grove Evangelical United Brethren Church. Janice went to the Red School from kindergarten to eighth grade. She graduated from Wykoff Public School in 1959. She then went to Rochester Junior College for one year and attended Cedar Falls Teachers College in Iowa. On January 27, 1962, Janice married Larry Hovey in Cherry Grove, Minn. On October 11 their first son was stillborn. They raised three children: Rochelle, Brian, and Jodi. Janice and Larry later divorced. 

Janice was a lifetime Auxiliary member in Ostrander, where she lived for most of her life before moving to LeRoy. She loved sports. She played fast-pitch softball until she was 50 years old. She also played a little slow pitch to fill in on Brian’s team. Janice was an avid bowler and bowled for many years. She also enjoyed playing cards, especially Bridge and doing jigsaw puzzles. She was one of the “all-nighters” playing cards at the card marathon for the Eagles Cancer Telethon. Janice also loved flowers, cardinals and gardening. One thing Janice couldn’t stand, however, was dirty windows, so hers were always spotless.

Janice is survived by her children Rochelle “Shelly” (Steve) Feine of Cincinatti, Ohio, Brian Hovey of Lime Springs, Iowa, Jodi (Doug) Zander of Bismarck, N. Dak.; grandchildren: Justin (Sarah) and Tyler Feine, Bailianna Thompson, Noah, Madison, Dominic and Veronica Zander, sisters-in-law Pat Soland, Mary Sikkink, Joan (Chuck) O’Connor and several nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Winnie, infant son, daughter-in-law Cheri Hovey, brothers Duane, Arlyn and Bill Ramaker; brothers-in-law Guy Soland, Dave Sikkink and the father of her children, Larry Hovey.

Visitation will be held from 4-6:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, 2024 at Hindt Funeral Home in LeRoy and will continue from 10-11 a.m. at the church on Saturday morning. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 13 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ostrander, Minn., with Pastor Herman Bakker officiating. Burial will take place at Cherry Grove Cemetery.