Nelda Grace Hove, age, 91, passed away on January 7, 2024, at the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center in Dell Rapids, SD.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 pm Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church in Garretson, SD with Pastor Corey Scott officiating. The burial followed at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Garretson.
In lieu of flowers, family wish memorials, which will be directed to the Zion Lutheran Church.
Nelda Grace Gortmaker, the youngest of 5 children, was born to Edward and Nellie Viet Gortmaker on November 14, 1932, in Monroe, SD. She was named after her mother, which she was very proud of. She grew up in the Monroe and Parker area, graduating from Monroe High School. While in high school, she was active in Volleyball, Basketball, Mixed Chorus, Girls Glee Chorus, and the Senior Class 3-act Play.
After graduation, which was May 17, 1951, she moved to Sioux Falls and got her first job at Manchester Biscuit Company. A couple of years later she met and married the love of her life, Dennis G. Hove on September 28, 1953, in Garretson. After living in Sioux Falls for a year, Nelda and Dennis moved to Garretson to raise their four children.
Over the years, Nelda was involved at Zion Lutheran Church, American Legion Auxiliary, Tops and Kops Club, and a volunteer at the Garretson Museum which she loved. She cleaned for the First National Bank and was a dietary aide at Palisade Manor until her retirement in 2012 after working for 26 years.
Nelda loved traveling! Nelda and Dennis traveled to many destinations making lots of wonderful memories. After Dennis’ death, Nelda continued traveling with her son, Kevin. They went to such places as Alaska, New England, Washington DC, New York City, San Francisco, Bransen, MO, LA and many other places on the East Coast. Her favorite destination was Alaska. Nelda was a diehard fan of the Minnesota Twins. You could always find her in front of the TV cheering them on even at family gatherings.
Nelda left a wonderful, delicious legacy to her family. For many occasions, she made homemade cinnamon bread and strawberry rhubarb jam. She taught her granddaughter, Heidi to make bread and her son Kevin to make the jam. So, the tradition will go on. Every Christmas she would always make these as gifts for her children.
Nelda moved to Edgewood Vista Assisted Living in Sioux Falls in May of 2018. She was then diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. In February of 2023, she moved to Dells Nursing and Rehab Center in Dell Rapids, SD where she passed away at the age of 91 on January 7, 2024. She will be greatly missed.
Nelda is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Donna Aanenson of Garretson; sons, Kevin Hove of Sioux Falls, and Kory (Lisa) Hove of Valley Springs; six grandchildren, Scott (Danielle) Shelby, (Kacey), Heidi (Tony), Roos, Lindsey (Garrett) Bratland, Kelsey (Sidney) McKinney, and Kaden; 14 great-grandchildren, Megan, Autumn, Collin, Austin, Haylee, Paxtin, Emersyn, Genesis, Addilyn, Braxtyn, Hayedyn, Henrik, Kaiyah, and Wyhatt; her sister, Lila Kostboth of Freemont, NE; sister-in-law, Janet (Tom) Vandersnick of Ft. Pierre; brother-in-law, Bruce Greiner; and many nieces and nephews and other family members.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dennis; her son, Kent; son-in-law, Randy; brother, Bud; two sisters, Kathleen and Betty; brothers-in-law, Wayne, Cal, Eddie, Myrl; sisters-in-law, Mary and Audrey.
