Arlo Lee Hovda

Arlo Lee Hovda, 84, of Willmar, died Friday, August 18th at Bethesda Grand in Willmar.  His funeral will be 11:00 am, Tuesday, August 22nd at Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar with interment in Clover Leaf Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5-7:00 pm, Monday, at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. www.hafh.org

Arlo was born October 18, 1938, in Wang Township, near Maynard, the son of Joseph and Selma (Olson) Hovda.  He grew up in Sacred Heart where he graduated from high school in 1959. 

On August 17, 1963, he was united in marriage to Darlene Helmbolt in Gary, South Dakota.  They lived in Sacred Heart until 1979 when they moved to Willmar.  Arlo worked for over 40 years for Coca-Cola starting out bottling in downtown Willmar, then doing repairs on machines, loading and unloading trucks and lastly with the vending side.  After being retired for two years, Darlene “encouraged” Arlo to go back to work, so he did, and back to Coke he went doing light maintenance in their office and warehouse.

He was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sacred Heart and is a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar.  His passion for sports was evident as he was an avid Vikings, Gophers and Twins fan as well as rarely missing a Willmar Cardinal basketball game at home.

Surviving are his son, Roland (Margie Holmack) Hovda of Willmar; siblings, Sheldon (Diane) Hovda of Sioux Falls, DeeAnn Hovda of Hutchinson, Charles (Kathy) Hovda of Fresno, CA, and Cheryl Wasmund of Willmar.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Darlene, in 2007, and siblings, LuVerne Hovda and Charlotte Steffen.

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