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Kurt T. Hovet: 1944-2013

Kurt T. Hovet, lifelong resident of McKenzie County, died of natural causes on March 31, 2013. The second of 10 children, Kurt was born to Walter and Olga (Marsten) Hovet on Feb. 25, 1944, in Williston, ND. He was raised in the Spring Creek community south of Watford City. He was educated in the rural Hovet School, Watford City High School graduating with the class of 1962, and Wahpeton State School of Science where he earned an Associate degree in Civil Engineering in 1964. He surveyed in the desert southwest and Montana between graduation and the time when he was drafted in to the United States Army.

Kurt served his country domestically and abroad while in the Army from 1965 to 1967 as a surveyor working on projects such as the United States Pentagon building and military landing strips in the jungle of Thailand to move resources into Vietnam. After his honorable discharge, he returned home and in 1968 purchased his southeast McKenzie County ranch. After losing his arm in a PTO accident later that same year he continued on with his passions of ranching, training horses, hunting and team roping. On March 26, 1972, he married his wife of 41 years, Rita (Levang) Hovet at First Lutheran Church in Watford City.

As a sportsman, cowboy and rancher Kurt lived his life by the rules governing the circle of life. He passed his love of nature, skills of animal husbandry and sportsmanship, and appreciation for the beauty of God’s creation on to his two daughters, sons-in-law and all others who knew him on a close personal level. Kurt was an avid hunter, excellent sportsman and sharp shot with a rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader and bow. He was a frontiersman at heart that always cherished his heritage and counted his blessings not in material fortunes, but in his relationships with his family and friends, both two legged and four legged. Kurt loved jamming with his large musical family and was an amazing poet and photographer, his subject matters being cowboys and their tales and farming and ranching families and their communities.

Kurt was a lifelong member of Spring Creek Lutheran Church until its recent closure and served on a number of community boards and organizations.

Kurt is survived by his mother, Olga (Marsten) Hovet of Watford City; his wife, Rita (Levang) Hovet of Watford City; two daughters, Vawnita (Pete) Best of Watford City and Kimberly (Lee) Murphy of Williston; three grandchildren, Jaden Kurtis Murphy, Kyle George Best and Morgan Rita Murphy; eight brothers and sisters, Sonia (Einar) Prestangen of Watford City, Beverly (Duane) Ashley of Williston, Cynthia Rust of Williston, Myron (Marcia) Hovet of Watford City, Rebecca (Andrew) Newman of Drumheller, Alberta, Canada, Randy (Vicki) Hovet of Charlo, MT, Steve (Paula) Hovet of Evans, GA, and Tim Hovet of Bismarck; many nieces and nephews, aunts and cousins.

Kurt is preceded in death by his grandparents; father, Walter Hovet; brother, Michael Hovet; aunts, uncles, cousins and several good saddle horses.

Family services were held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, with a celebration of life service held at First Lutheran Church in Watford City at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 5. Friends may share memories and condolences with the family at http://www.fulkersons.com.