Lillian Adele Hovendick

Lilly Hovendick passed from this earth on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at the home of her daughter, Lisa in Lander, Wyoming, at age 88.  She said to everyone that visited her in this last chapter, "Don't cry for me if you hear I'm gone, I'll be dancing on streets of gold!"  And truer words could not be spoken, she is free of a worn out body and in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Those that had the good fortune of knowing her, would agree that a more loving heart could not be found.
Lillian Adele Arno was born on March 11, 1937 in Havre, Montana to Alvern and Victoria (Newbauer) Arno.  She grew up at Mountain Brook, near Kalispell, Montana, and graduated from Flathead High School in 1954.  She graduated from St. Paul Bible School and married Stanley Hovendick in 1957.  Together they had three children, Steve, Mary and Lisa.  They moved to Nebraska in 1965 and began farming with Stanley's father, Bill.  They spent the next 27 years in the Blair and Herman area.  She taught school at Rosehill and 4th grade in Blair for many years, never forgetting a student.
Mom always wanted to go back to the mountains and live in a log home. In 1992, they bought a ranch outside Lander, Wyoming, where they spent the next 33 years, raising cattle and enjoying grandkids.  She had a great love for the communities she lived in and made life-long friendships with neighbors.  She was always interested in others and loved to gather family and friends.  We could count on Mom to bring her delicious deviled eggs to every gathering. She never met a person she didn't love.  It was a super-natural love that only comes from her love of Christ, and His love channeled through her.  She carried her bible from bible studies to local prisons, women's shelters, and taught at the Cornerstone Christian School in Lander, leading many students to the Lord.  She walked the walk, the epitome of humble and kind.  She loved to gather with ladies from Lander Valley Baptist to pray.  On Mom's heart was always praying for our country, it's leadership and Israel.
Mom loved horses, filling sketchbooks with Beauty, Flicka, Princess Oleta and Smokey, whom she trained.  She had a love for Native Americans and loved to give a voice to the voiceless. She was a skilled artist, painting many oil paintings of horses, mountain scenes and Native Americans.  Mom loved to sing and played piano, guitar and accordion and sang at many events with her dear friend, Ann Hovanec. She was a wonderful loving mother and adored her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, and both siblings, Jim and Ray.
She is survived by her husband, Stan, of 68 years, son Steve, daughter-in-law Brenda, grandchildren, Emily, Billy (fiancé, Sara), Sally (Clay) Espinosa, Molly and great-grandchildren, Kasey and Clancy, daughter, Mary Helland (fiancé David), son-in-law Chris Helland, grandchildren Addy (Michael) Spence, great-granddaughter Charlotte, grandsons, Simon, Franklin and Jack Helland.  Daughter Lisa Hovendick, and grandsons Benjamin Stebelton, (fiancé Brandy) and Stewart Stebelton.  She is also survived by her beloved poodle, Cookie, her companion for 17 years.
The family would like to thank the staff at Sage West Hospital and all those at Enhabit Hospice for the kind and gentle care they gave our precious Mom the last month of her life.
A graveside service was officiated by Martin Corcorran and held for immediate family. A Celebration of Lilly's life will be held at a later date. Mom always wanted to walk where Jesus walked, and now she truly is.

Please sign the on-line guestbook: hudsonsfh.com