Kathryn Mary Blaisdell Hovland (Kay)

Rugby

Kathryn Mary Blaisdell Hovland (Kay), 89, Rugby, died at the Heart of America Long-term Care facility on July 1, 2024. Kay was born May 10, 1935, in Minot to Anna Larson and Henry Blaisdell. She graduated from Minot High School in 1953 and Trinity School of Nursing (1956), and later earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Minot State University in 1987. She had a life-long commitment to serving others as nurse, advisor, and friend. Be it the scariest carnival ride, world travel, or parasailing, she was always up for adventure. In her later years, she unleashed her sense of fun with her much-loved grandchildren, hosting tea parties on the roof, making Mickey Mouse pancakes, and entertaining with her Donald Duck voice. With a twinkle in her eye and a ready laugh, she saw the humor in almost any situation–and when she laughed, it was with her whole body, a cackle that could be heard from one end of the house to the other.

Kay married Tilman Hovland in 1956 and they raised three children, Richard (1957), Ann (1959), and Robert (1962) in Rugby. Her family was the focus of her life. Her greatest joy came from being involved with her children’s activities, family camping trips (that always involved inclement weather and perpetually leaky tents), music activities, and sporting events. A two-time state champion tennis player in her youth, she continued playing tennis (with and against her father and kids) into her forties. She particularly enjoyed the summer musicals in which the entire family participated. She was particularly proud of her starring role as the no-nonsense feisty Aunt Eller in “Oklahoma.” She was a woman of many talents, including being an accomplished seamstress. She sewed dozens of matching dresses for her granddaughters, as well as prom dresses and Barbie doll clothes for her daughter. She also designed and sewed her daughter-in-law Stephanie’s wedding dress, which included hand-applying hundreds of seed pearls and many yards of lace. Her creativity also found expression in the decades-long remodeling of her much-loved home. She was hands-on; any given weekend would find her designing a new color scheme or even laying the brick facing on the porch steps.

Kay loved being a member of the Rugby community. She treasured the numerous wonderful people and life-long friendships and believed it the perfect place to raise a family. She enjoyed entertaining and developed close relationships with friends from all walks of life, but nothing brought her greater joy than her five grandchildren. She spent as much time as possible being involved with grandkids, engaging them with crafts and activities, taking them to events, and spoiling them rotten. It was extremely rare that she missed a grandkid’s “event,” regardless of its insignificance, and Lake Metigoshe was a particularly rich playground for shared fun.

In her career as a nurse and administrator, Kay served in several capacities at the Good Samaritan Hospital and Heart of America Medical Center (HAMC), including registered nurse, supervisor, instructor, and Director of Acute Nursing from 1962-1987. She was passionate about the nursing profession and served on the State Board of Nursing as a board member from 1982-1988 and President from 1985-1988. She was on several advisory boards and education boards and was committed to elevating the profile of the profession. She was the Director of the Haaland Home/Haaland Manor from 1987-1998, topping off her professional career as the HAMC Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Coordinator from 1998-2012. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church, Village Arts Association, Faculty Wives, and American Legion Auxiliary.

She is survived by her husband, Tilman; brother, George Blaisdell, Cle Elum, Washington; her children, Rich (Jayne Merbach) Hovland, Bismarck; Ann Hovland, West Linn, Oregon; and Rob (Stephanie Klein) Hovland, Rugby; grandchildren, Crystal (Allen Berg) Bismarck; Taylor (Trevor) Gust, Bismarck; Aubrey (Doug Gugel-Bryant) Hovland (Fargo); Nolan Hovland (Nashville); and Mara Buchanan-Hovland (West Linn, Oregon); and three great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her brothers John and Henry Blaisdell.

A memorial service will be held at First Lutheran Church in Rugby on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. She will be buried at Persilla Watts Cemetery following the service.Friends may call at the church an hour prior to the service. Memorials are welcomed to Good Samaritan Health Services Foundation – Rugby.

www.niewoehnerfh.com 701-776-6222

Published by The Minot Daily News, July 3, 2024.