Stanley Carl Hovendick

Stanley Hovendick passed from this earth on Thursday, September 04, 2025, surrounded by his family in Lander, Wyoming, at age 89.  His beloved wife of 68 years, Lilly, had passed away just 17 days prior.
Stanley Carl was born to William and Carla (Juul) Hovendick on July 13, 1936 at the Juul farm west of Blair.  His mother told the story many times of laboring in 113 degree heat, the only comforts were a hand fan and a wooden spool to bite on and Lysol. He joined his brother Donald, who was 3-years-older. He grew up on the Hovendick family farm west of Spiker.
Stanley attended Rosehill and Spiker elementary schools and graduated from Blair High School in 1953.  He was known as a tremendous baseball player playing on the Reds and Legion teams until it ended with a shoulder injury his senior year.  Dad headed to Montana with his best friend, Rich Anderson to be cowboys.  They got their fill of it wintering cattle on the Big Meadow Ranch outside of Kalispell, MT where the temperature reached 60 below zero.  This experience provided life-long stories of Montana boys vs. Nebraska boys fighting, freezing, and killing a grizzly bear. The Nebraska boys got the girls, both leaving with Montana wives.
Stan married Lillian Arno on July 26, 1957 in Kalispell. In 1960, he attended LeTourneau Technical Institute in Longview, Texas learning plumbing and welding, and meeting life-long friends, Ann and Dan Hovanec. Stan returned to Montana to work as a pipefitter/welder for Anaconda Aluminum. Three children were born to this union, Steve, Mary and Lisa.       In 1965 they bought the historic Raver farm near Herman, Nebraska, five miles from his parents and began farming together.  He was the 4th generation Hovendick to farm in Washington County. Many happy memories were made with beloved neighbors and friends throughout the next 27 years. He loved history, and knew the stories of the pioneers who settled the land we lived in. His great-grandparents arrived fresh from the Civil War; one fought for the North, one for the South, and their children married each other.
They were avid square dancers at the Herman Legion, and loved to play cards. Dad got to play ball again with the Country Gentlemen, an over 40's league.  He loved a good farm auction or estate sale collecting many treasures over the years.  He loved old things because it was the evidence of a story.  He was a great story teller until his last day of life, he was remembering the horse he rode to Rosehill and the second time he saw his dad lose his temper.  Mom would say, "He's a pistol, but he sure is funny." He will be remembered for his stories, humor and great sense of adventure.
In 1992 they bought a ranch near Lander, Wyoming to raise cattle and alfalfa with son, Steve and Brenda Hovendick and enjoy their grandchildren, Emily, Bill, Sally and Molly for the next 33 years.  Son, Steve and grandkids, Sally and Bill now manage this ranch.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Lilly, parents, and brother, Donny who died of polo at 13 years old.
He is survived by son Steve, daughter-in-law Brenda, grandchildren, Emily, Molly, Billy (Sara), Sally (Clay) Espinosa, and great-grandchildren, Kasey and Clancy Espinosa, 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, (Brandy) great-grandson, Clyde and Grandson Stewart Stebelton.  Also surviving are brother, David Hovendick and sister-in-law Carol of Omaha, NE, and sister, Donna Marvin and brother-in-law, Don, of Omaha, NE. Brother-in-law Ed Hansen of Blair, NE, two nephews, Todd Hansen of Blair, NE, and Trent (Jenny) Hansen of Windsor, CO.
A Celebration of Life for both Stan and Lil will held in Lander next spring.
Please sign the on-line guestbook: hudsonsfh.com.