WEATHER DELAY:  due to the weather, visitation will be held MONDAY Dec 30, from 5-7pm, with a prayer service beginning at 630 at the Anderson Family Funeral Home, Twin Valley.  Funeral service will be at 2pm TUESDAY, Dec 31 at 2 pm at Ness Luthern Church.

Vernon Leland Hovelson, the son of Lloyd and Violet (Hagy) Hovelson, was born on June 4, 1945 in Grand Forks, ND.  As a small child, he moved with his family to the Gary area.  He grew up on the family farm and attended school.  Spunky worked alongside his father on the farm, learning everything he could about agriculture.  On January 14, 1967, he was united in marriage to Lois Nissen and they made their first home on the farm. They moved into Gary after the tornado of 1978, but Spunky continued to operate the farm.   Over the years, he took classes at Moorhead Technical College in refrigeration and welding, both of which helped him around the shop and throughout his life.

Spunky had a special talent to fix nearly anything! He had a very strong vision that could always create something unique to tackle any job.  Spunky had a passion for farming and he loved watching the fields change throughout the year.  He enjoyed driving around the countryside, checking out every machinery lot and visiting with anyone who crossed his path.  Spunky was an active member of the Gary Lions for many years.  He also enjoyed watching a good Western movie, especially featuring John Wayne.  After Lois passed away in 2015, Spunky returned to live full time at the farm, where his heart always remained.   He died, at the age of 74, peacefully surrounded by his family on Christmas morning, December 25, 2019 at his home.  His many stories and zest for life will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Spunky is survived by two daughters, Verona (Stacey) Prestegord and Christine Dalby, both of Gary; eight grandchildren: Trent, Dalton, Brock, Cody and Carigen Prestegord and Kelsey, Kierra and Keghan Dalby; and two great grandchildren, Gracey Bakken and Logan Prestegord. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lois; a brother, Jerry; and a granddaughter, Kaila.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at Ness Lutheran Church, rural Gary. A Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Monday, December 30, 2019, with a Prayer Service beginning at 6:30 pm, at the Anderson Family Funeral Home, Twin Valley. Burial will take place at Ness Lutheran Cemetery.