Sharon L Hovey

Memorial services for Sharon L. Hovey, age 77 of Albert Lea will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. from Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home.  Pastor Kent Otterman will officiate.  Private burial will be at Lime Creek Cemetery.  Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the services at the chapel.  Online condolences are welcome at:  www.bayviewfuneral.com

Sharon died on Friday June 26, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Center.
Sharon Louise (Rierson) Hovey was born on June 23, 1938 in Lake Mills, IA., the daughter of Helmer and Ruth (Ausen) Rierson.  She moved to Albert Lea when she was 5 yrs. old, along with her mother and brother.  She attended Ramsey school and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1956.  Baptized at Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, IA., confirmed at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea.  In 1956 she married Delano Hovey and they had 2 children, Scott and Joni.  They were divorced after 17 yrs of marriage.  Sharon worked for the Albert Lea Police department as a Meter Maid and as a dispatcher.  She attended Austin Jr. College.  She then moved to Helena, Montana to work at the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s office.  Sharon graduated from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and was employed by the Gallatin County Sheriff Department, Bozeman, Montana as a Deputy Sheriff.  She retired from law enforcement in 1989 and moved to Rochester, MN., and worked for Mayo Clinic as a security guard until 1992.  She moved to Minneapolis in 1992 to be closer to her devoted companion Steve Leuthold.  She volunteered at Hennepin County Medical Center for several years.
Sharon loved to knit dishrags to give to her family and friends and crocheted several afghans for her family.  She loved to send birthday cards to her friends and family, loved to read, watch movies and her computer.  Steve and Sharon were world travelers, they went on several cruises, visited several foreign countries and states.  She loved antiques and her “old” friends.  Some she had kept in contact for 55 years and her high school girlfriends had a Round Robin Letter that has continued since 1956 and still is flying.  Sharon also was an artist and always wanted to sing like Patsy Cline.  She and Steve shared residences on Bailey Island, ME., Tucson, AZ., Minneapolis and Albert Lea, MN.
Sharon is survived by her devoted companion; Steve Leuthold, her children; Scott L. (Beverly) Hovey, Rochester and Joni L. Hovey Dokken, Lakewood, CO.  Grandchildren;  Nichole  Hovey-Brown, Mayme M. Dokken Zimmerman, Megan (Magpi) Dokken.   Great-grandchildren;  Ashley  Lehnertz, Jaxon Hovey-Brown, Madison and Michael Zimmerman.  The Leuthold children;  Mike, Kurt, Russ and Linda and grandchildren.  Siblings; Richard (Janice) Rierson, Albert Lea, Linda Jacobson Queen, Albert Lea, Dr. Robert Rierson, Phoenix, AZ., Michael Rierson, Souix Falls, S.D., and Pam Rierson, Walker, WA.  Many nieces, nephews, cousins and her many friends in Arizona, Montana, Maine and Minnesota.
Sharon was preceded in death by her mother, Ruth Jacobson, Father Helmer Rierson, step-father Russell Jacobson, brother  Gary H. Rierson in infancy and her grandparents.  Her beloved cat Tuxie and poodle Jingles.
Blessed be her memory.  She will be dearly remembered and sadly missed by us all.  Memorials preferred to the Freeborn County Humane Society Fund.  PO Box 423, Albert Lea or the Lime Creek Cemetery maintenance fund.  65333 120th St. Emmons, MN