Shirley Hovatter

Shirley Jeanne (Erickson) Hovatter, 93, of Forest Lake, Minnesota passed away peacefully on April 2, 2017, in Chisago City, Minnesota. Shirley was born August 30, 1923, in Brainerd, Minnesota. Shirley lived on Oak Street in Brainerd attending Harrison Elementary, Franklin Junior and Washington High Schools. Shirley played both the piano and organ with zest for services at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Graduating with honors from Washington high school she accepted a job at the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor to the CIA) in Washington D.C. After several promotions was offered a foreign assignment in Cairo during the height of the WWII North African campaign. Fate had stepped in the way of this career; she had met James Hovatter of Cumberland, Md, the love of her life in DC. They celebrated their wedding in Brainerd August 12, 1944. After raising 3 children Shirley accepted a position at the U.S.D.A. in Minneapolis. Shirley's family enjoyed camping, fishing on Forest, South Long and Mille Lac's lakes, long summer vacations to Florida and Maryland. In retirement, Shirley and Jim enjoyed spending winters in Port Aransas Texas catching Redfish, Speckled Trout and whatever else would fit in the pan. She made the best crab cakes! Summer was at Forest Lake on the pontoon and tending the garden. Shirley enjoyed entertaining family at Forest Lake and Port Aransas especially the g'kids who were always buzzing around. Jim, in retirement, was Forest Lake's Township assessor he would do the field work (talk and gab), Shirley would do the 'REAL' work in their home on Forest Lake…..she was the brains of the outfit Jim said. Married 72+ years …….. Preceded in death by her parents Minnie Christine and Oscar Edwin Erickson, husband Jim, son, Capt. Patrick Hovatter. Survived by sons, Michael (Diana) Hovatter of Georgetown, Texas, and Thomas Hovatter of Lakeville, Minnesota; daughter-in-law, Sherrie Hovatter of Rochester, New York; grandchildren, Justin (Sara) Hovatter, Alicia Matthews, Kelly (Christian) Probst, Ryan (Alexandra) Hovatter, Kyle Hovatter, Nicole Hovatter and Eric Hovatter; and nine great-grandchildren; brother, Richard (Lois) Erickson of Forest Lake, Minnesota. A visitation will be held from 2:30 –4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 9th, at Mattson Funeral Home in Forest Lake. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 10th, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Forest Lake, with a graveside service held at 2:15 p.m. at Fort Snelling Cemetery in Minneapolis. Donations to "Needy Veterans Fund" c/o American Legion Post 225, 355 W. Broadway Ave, Forest Lake, Mn 55025 in Shirley's name.

Funeral Home: Mattson Funeral Home 343 North Shore Drive Forest Lake, MN US 55025

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Previous Events

Visitation
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Service
Monday, April 10, 2017
cemetery
Monday, April 10, 2017

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