Mary Sikkink

Mary Sikkink passed, when she was good and ready, on the Palliative Care Unit at Mayo Clinic Methodist Campus, on January 24, 2026, after suffering a severe stroke on Friday, January 16.

Mary Ann Hovey was born on August 21, 1944, the third of four Hovey kids, to Virgil and Roelvine (Terbeest) Hovey.  She attended country school at Bristol Grove from kindergarten to eighth grade then graduated from Harmony High School in 1962.  Mary was baptized and confirmed at the Satersdal Lutheran Church rural Harmony.

As a teenager Mary met Dave Sikkink at the roller rink; after graduation she married him on August 25, 1962.  They were blessed with four children:  Lynn David, Debra Marie, Scott Vernon and Mark K.  Mary and Dave raised their family and farmed in rural Preston on the Sikkink Farm that became a Century Family Farm in July of 1976.  This year, July 2026, it becomes a Sesquicentennial Family Farm.

Mary was a stay at home farm wife and mom taking part in each season, washing bulk tanks, checking beef cattle, loading pigs, running for parts and hauling hundreds of meals to the fields.  In 1985 when the farm crisis hit, she entered the work force.  She was 41.  She was employed at Fillmore Place working with the clients there; eventually she worked her way to the office then to Maple Leaf Services working as a secretary/receptionist.  She retired after 24 years of service.

Dave and Mary loved adventuring together.  Hawaii was a favorite.  They also visited Australia (trip of a lifetime), Mexico, Mississippi, Colorado, Texas, and eventually shared a winter home in Florida with fellow farmers/friends.  The Corvette Rally in Spearfish, S. Dak., was also something they loved and enjoyed for over 15 years.  Mary experienced her second trip of a lifetime when she visited Paris, France and London, England in 2017 with her daughter and granddaughter.  She treasured time with her sisters through birthday celebrations and trips (long and short), often chauffeured by daughter Deb over the last 16 years.  Time together was a testament to their fierce closeness and love for each other.

Mary enjoyed “crafting” with the neighbor ladies, and from 1984 to 1987 they sold their creations out of their little shop in Preston called “Keepsakes.”  Mary was an active member of the Greenleafton Reformed church from 1962 to present, participating on committees and as a Sunday School and Bible School teacher for many years.  Her faith saw her through all that life threw at her.

Mary was a visitor, happy and energetic.  She was known to show up with wine and cheese in later years but raised us kids with an iron hand.

Mary is lovingly survived by daughter Deb (Steve) Knoepke and their blended family: Lacey (Jordan Jarland) Dols, Leah (Corey) Schaaf, Lexie (Logan) Walker, Connor (Cassidy Hanson) Dols, bonus grandson Drew Tienter, Adam (Jamie) Knoepke, Ben (Sara) Knoepke, Jessica (Joe) Sheridan; Scott’s daughter Aarianna Sikkink, son Mark (Molly) Sikkink and their family: Kandace (Levi Sand), Alec, Sonny, Fay and John; four great-grands: Remi, Crew, Wells, Benelli and one on the way in March; as well as nine blended great-grands: Erin, Lily, Caden, Alison, Sam, Carson, Grace, Will and Taylor. She is further survived by her sisters Pat Soland and Joan (Chuck) O’Connor, sisters-in-law Sandy (Phil) Milne and Jeannie (Kim) Benson, many nieces and nephews, treasured first cousins, very special friends and her beloved adopted cat Kitsy.

Thrilled to greet her at the doors of Heaven were her husband Dave and her boys Lynn and Scott, her parents Virgil and Roelvine, her mother and father-in-law Cleo and Fay Sikkink, her brother Larry Hovey, brother-in-law Guy Soland and sister-in-law Janice Hovey, two tiny great-grands she hasn’t been able to meet until now, as well as many special aunts and uncles, neighbors and friends, dog Dobie and cat Nugget.

Her family wishes to thank all the eyes in the community, her neighbors and sisters for extra care and support since her memory issues, to help keep her independent and safe.  A sincere thanks to the staff on the Palliative Care Unit 74-A at Methodist Hospital for mom’s spectacular care.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 31 at 11 a.m. with visitation prior to the service starting at 9 a.m. at the Greenleafton Reformed Church in rural Preston with Pastor Todd Bush presiding.  Mary will be interred with her husband David at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery outside Preston at a later date.