Gretchen Hovda

Mercedes: Gretchen Theimer Hovda was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on January 26, 1928, to Benjamin Theimer and Hannah Brauer Theimer, the second of 5 children. She was proceeded in death by her parents, 2 brothers, a sister, her beloved husband Buddy, and son David.

She met Hjalmer “Buddy” Hovda in 1945 on a blind date while he was training for the Navy in Moore, Oklahoma and they married on June 19, 1948. They had 5 children, Allen (Debby)Hovda of Corpus Christi, David (Lola Jean) Hovda of San Antonio, Gretchen Hovda of Weslaco, Hans (Connie Hovda) of Weslaco and Hannah (Craig) Cluiss of Conroe, Texas. She has 16 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. She and Buddy first lived in Minnesota where Allen was born and went to Oklahoma City in 1951 where David was born and then settled in Progreso, Texas in 1952 to farm San Pedro Ranch where later Gretchen, Hans, and Hannah were born. She and Buddy eventually purchased and farmed their own land, Hovda Farms, and lived there to their last days.

Gretchen taught at Immanuel Lutheran School in Mercedes for several years. She later was the organist and taught Sunday School for her church in Weslaco till she was 85. She was a familiar face at the Progreso Post office where she was employed for 20 years. Faith, family, and friends were the joys of her life. She made sure her children knew their Savior and took great joy in sharing this with her grandchildren by teaching them prayers and children’s hymns. She also enjoyed playing Bridge, Pinochle, and 500. She was always excited about treating her children and grandchildren to an annual reunion at Schliterbaum every summer for over 25 years.

The Hovda house was the gathering of the neighborhood children in Progreso where Buddy had built a backstop for baseball games and the vacant lot hosted many football games. She loved and was loved by many, and everyone was always welcomed at the Hovda Home.

Visitation will be Wednesday, November 30th, 5-8 pm, followed by a graveside service on Thursday, December 1st, 11 am, at Highland Memorial Park in Weslaco. Arrangements a