Judith Anne Hovda

Judith Anne Hovda was born January 18, 1939, in St. James, Minnesota, and died September 23, 2024 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

Judy grew up in St. James, Minnesota. After High School, she enrolled at Oberlin Conservatory for Music. She graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth as a Music/English double-major, where she transferred after getting married to Clayton Hovda. Judy married Clayton Hovda in St. James, MN on August 6, 1960. They met when he was her teacher at St. James High School, but (of course) they did not date until he reached out her sophomore year at Oberlin and he was in graduate school at the University of Minnesota.

She was beloved by her family: by her husband Clayton of more than 60 years; her children David and Tracy, Kari and Scott; and her grandchildren. She was kind and gentle and funny and had a great laugh, and she made the best chocolate chip cookies, often with her grandchildren from the time they were little. She loved cooking, reading, community service, and especially music. She loved to walk with Clayton around little Lake Camelot near their home in Plymouth, MN.

Judy and Clayton traveled the world, driving around Europe, cruising the rivers of France and Germany, cruising the Mediterranean and Caribbean, visiting China and Japan, and for almost 20 years, returning to Hawaii, Judy’s favorite place outside of home. For many years they enjoyed their season tickets to the Minnesota Orchestra, the Guthrie Theater, and the Minnesota Opera, driving to concerts and plays from wherever they lived in outstate Minnesota. We will miss her beyond words.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents Melvin and Helen Erickson, and her husband Clayton Hovda. She is survived by her son David (Tracy) Hovda and daughter Kari (Scott) Schlachter, and grandchildren Alison (John) Anthony, Scott Hovda, Matthew Hovda, Sam Schlachter fiancé Katie Rick, Sydney Schlachter, Dylan (Lizzie) Schlachter, sister Martha Hopeman, and brother-in-law David (Ann) Hovda.

Memorial service at 2:00 PM October 11th at St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church, 17205 County Road 6, Plymouth. Private interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Visitation 5-7 PM October 10th at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel of Plymouth, 15800 37th Avenue North, Plymouth, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorials are preferred to the Minnesota Orchestra, Trillium Woods Scholarship fund or the donor’s preference.