Irene Lucille Hovey

Funeral services for Irene L. Hovey, 90, of Rochester, MN (formerly of Byron), will be at 11:00am on Monday, March 7, 2011 at the Byron United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sharon Nelson officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery in Hayfield. Visitation will be from 2:00 - 5:00 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes and also one hour prior to the service Monday at the church.Irene Lucille Hovey was born on March 16, 1920 in Byron, MN to George and Ethel (Ready) Distad. She died on March 2, 2011 at Sunrise Cottages in Rochester.Irene attended Byron Schools and graduated from Hayfield High School. She married Phillip Hovey on August 12, 1940 in Hayfield. The couple lived in Rochester and Hayfield and moved to Byron in 1956. Irene worked as a cook in the Byron Schools and also worked with her husband as a custodian with the schools. She also was a rural Post Bulletin carrier for over 20 years in the Hayfield and Oslo areas. She has been a resident of Sunrise Cottages for the last three years. Irene enjoyed sporting and family events and cross word puzzles.Survivors include her husband, Phillip of Rochester, MN; her two daughters, Betty (Daniel) Ramthun of Goodhue, MN and Bonnie (Maynard) Christenson of Rochester, MN; her two sons, Kenneth Hovey (significant other, Linda Thomas) of Byron, MN and Kevin Hovey of Rochester, MN; eight grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren; her sister, Evelyn Bauman of Hayfield, MN and her brother, Nordean (Elaine) Distad of Wabasha, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter, one brother and one sister and brother-in-law.Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 (507) 289-3600www.ranfranzandvinefh.com