Jerry E. (Budd) Hovey

Jerry E. (Budd) Hovey, age 85, of Great Falls MT, a retired educator, and Marine Corps veteran, died Tuesday, May 23, 2023, passing peacefully in his sleep at his Rio Rancho, NM home.

Survivors include his wife Sharon, three sons, Chad Hovey, Erik (Elaine) Hovey, and Greg Hovey, three grandchildren: Ella, Anna, and Tyler Hovey.  Budd was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister Betty (Hovey) Swallie.

Budd was born in Minot ND on December 5, 1937, to Lester and Sue Hovey, the first of two children.  He graduated from Minot High School in the spring of 1956.  In October 1956, Budd volunteered for the Marine Corps, and he was stationed at Camp Pendleton CA.

Before completing his first degree from college, Budd had sampled a variety of potential career fields to determine if this was what he wanted to do for the next 30-35 years, such as service station employee, road construction, men’s clothing sales, counselor for The Boys’ Ranch, blood bank manager, mail delivery, truck driver, painter, and construction laborer.

Upon graduation from Minot State College (MSU), he was employed by the Great Falls Public School System (GFPS) for a 31-year career.  Early in his career, he took a leave of absence to pursue his Masters in Education with emphasis on Educational Counseling.  Returning to Great Falls, he worked as an Elementary Physical Education teacher and coach, pioneered the first Elementary School Counselors program with three other counselors, was a Coordinator for Career Education for Cascade County rural schools, a Coordinator/Counselor for the Adult Basic Education Program, and Senior Scholarship Counselor for Charles M. Russell High School.  He often stated, “The kids made education a great place to work.”  He and Sharon enjoyed being at their sons’ school and church events.

Budd met his wife, Sharon, at Trinity Hospital in Minot, where Sharon worked on the Orthopedic Unit.  They enjoyed 55 years of marriage together.

In retirement, he and Sharon enjoyed traveling in their RVs through approximately 30 states, camping, touring, and visiting their family in Albuquerque NM (Chad), Poulsbo WA (Erik), and in El Paso TX (Greg).  Reading and hobbies included the Bible, military and history books, current events, music, classic movies, photography of family, camping, and scenic beauty.  He always liked Suzuki motorcycles and Chevrolet cars and trucks.

Memorials may be made to the Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church (RRPC) Capital Campaign (Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church, 1004 24^th St SE, Rio Rancho NM 87124, 505-892-6664), or to one’s personal preference. 

The Memorial Service will be live streamed and recorded by the Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church (https://rioranchopresbyterianchurch.org) on Saturday, May 27, 2023,  2:00 PM MST.

The obituary is available at Daniels Funeral Home (https://www.danielsfuneral.com/obituaries).