Mabel A. Hovden

Mabel A. Hovden, 102, of Mabel, formerly of the Burr Oak, Iowa, area, died Sunday, August 4, 2024, at the Green Lea Senior Living in Mabel, Minns.

Mabel was born February 5, 1922, on the family farm near Cresco, Iowa, to Carl and Mabel (Jewell) Blomgren.  She attended school in Cresco.  As a young woman she moved to Kansas to help family. She would later move back to help her future mother-in-law, where she met her future husband, Lynnferd Hovden.  During World War II she worked at Quaker Oats, and since all the men were at war, was the first woman to do work that had been strictly for the men.  Mabel and Lynnferd were married in 1946, after he returned from the service. They had moved to Ridgeway and Charles City, then to Burr Oak where they operated the Crystal Inn for a few years.  Mabel later was the head cook at the North Winneshiek School. She also worked at DECO and Aase Haugen Home.  Lynnferd passed away in 1995.  Mabel then moved to Tucson, Ariz., for 14 years before moving to Mabel, where she has resided since. 

Mabel was a member of the Burr Oak Lutheran Church and Ladies Aide, Vesterheim, and American Legion Auxiliary. Mabel’s family meant the world to her. Every new marriage and new birth gave her much joy. She loved to brag about each one of them. She was very artistic and creative and enjoyed Rogland Style Rosemaling.

Mabel is survived by her children Jacquelynn (Richard) Miller of Harmony, Lynnette Smith of Marion, Iowa, Harlynn of Springerville, Ariz., and Timothy Lynn of DeBeque, Colo.; 10 grandchildren: Kim (Dave) Erickson, Butch (Carmen) Thompson, Chris (Heidi) Thompson, Brenda (Ty) Makela, Rich (Pam) Horn, Brittany Smith, Allynn (Sheila) Hovden, Russell Hovden, Faith (Shilo) Holbrook, and Keenan Hovden (Amanda); 17 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her husband Lynnferd, a son, Rick; brother and sisters Ella, Florence, Ruth, Maude, Dorothy, Doris, Cora, Rose, Pearl, Aleida, Opal, Carl, Lyola and Josephine; son-in-law Gene Horn, and daughters-in-law Kathy Weeks and Tamie Hovden.

A celebration of Mabel’s life will be held at a later date.  

The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements.