Thief River Falls - Blanche Hovden, 104, died on Friday, August 15, 1997 at the CNC Unit of Northwest Medical Center.
Graveside services will be held on her 105th birthday, September 13, 1997 at 11 a.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls. The Green Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Blanche Olena Bakken was born on September 13, 1892 in Ridgeway, IA to Gust and Tina (Blekeberg) Bakken. She spent her early years in Ridgeway, IA where she was baptized and confrimed in the Lutheran faith and graduated from Ridgeway High School in 1909. On April 22, 1913 she was united in marriage to Ralph T. Hovden. The couple lived for several years on various farms in Iowa, North Dakota and Minnesota, moving to the Thief River Falls area in 1933. In 1942 they moved into Thief River Falls, and Blanche was employed by Land O'Lakes, Peterson-Biddick Company and Dietz Tax Service.
Blanche was very interested and active in polictics and active in her church. She lived at Skylite Apartments from the time they were built until June 1997 when she became ill and went to the Convalescent Nursing Center at Northwest Medical Center.
Blanche is survived by five sons, George (Ruby) Hovden of Mesa, AZ, Earl Hovden of Santa Rosa, CA, Charles Hovden, Joel (Opal) Hovden and Alton (Nelda) Hovden, all of Lubbock, TX; two daughters, Lil (Al) Thomas of San Diego, CA and Mavis Aaseby and her friend of Big Lake; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; two sons, Maurice "Tex" of Walnut Creek, CA and Ralph "Red" of Marshalltown, IA; her parents; three sisters, Emma Westby, Gleora Yarwood and Henrietta Dahlen; and one brother, John Bakken.