Russell Carmen Hovelson, age 88, a long-time resident of Canyon Lake Texas, left the arms of his loving family to the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 28th, 2018 peacefully at the Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home in Floresville Texas.
Russ was born on August 19th, 1930 in Gary MN to Lewis and Selma (Norby) Hovelson.
Russ worked on the family farm and a ranch in Wyoming until he entered the US Army in January 1952, completed basic training at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky with the 101st Air Borne Division. After 16 weeks of infantry training , he was sent to Korea. He was assigned to the 45th Division, 279th Infantry Regiment, north of the 38th Parallel. He returned to the United Stated in 1953 and was separated from the Army in October 1953 honorably.
Russ met Iris Garland, the love of his life, and they were married on October 23rd, 1954 in Mahnomen MN. After 2 years of civilian life, Russ joined the US Air Force in March 1956 and became an Air Policeman. He performed Law Enforcement and Security at Fairfield Station Travis AFB, CA; Croughton Air Base, England and Offut AFB, NE. He then became a Military Training Instructor at Lackland AFB, TX from March 1964 to March 1967. He then cross trained into Aircraft Fuel Systems and assigned to Ellsworth AFB, SD and TDY to Kadena AB, Okinawa where he worked on KC-135 and B-52 Fuel Systems. From there he was assigned to Takhli AB, Thailand where he worked on F-105 and RB-66 Fuel Systems. His last six months of duty at Takhli AB, he was NCOIC of the External Tank Farm. Reassigned to Lackland AFB, TX and performed duties as a Military Training Instructor until retiring from the Air Force in June 1974.
Iris and his three children Gary, Rebecca and Douglas were very supportive of his Military Career and he was a loving husband and father.
In 1979, Russ and Iris went into business forming Canyon Lake Pest Control until 1993 in which they sold the business and went full-time RVing as Ambassadors for Camping World.
As a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Canyon Lake, TX, Russ was active in the Knights of Columbus and a life-time member of the VFW Auxiliary Post 8573 of Sattler, TX.
Russ’s hobbies included wood working and traveling. He also joined the Memorial Service Detachment Honor Guard at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery in 2008 and provided military funeral honors for veterans.
Russ is survived by his daughter Becky Bodenhamer and husband Dan (Camden, AR); son, Doug Hovelson and partner Eric Wilbur (Columbus, OH); sister Dorothy Tilleraas (Great Falls, MT); ten grandchildren: Jennifer Albrecht and Cody Malek, Eric Hovelson, Brandon Bodenhamer, Scott Bodenhamer and wife Stephanie, Emily Hovelson and Darryl Schmidt, Robert Bodenhamer, Melody Hovelson, Katie Hovelson-Fuentes and husband Oliver, Steven Bodenhamer, Kyle Hovelson and wife Reese; nine great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law’s and many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by his wife Iris (Garland) Hovelson; son, Gary Hovelson; parents, Lewis and Selma Hovelson; brothers Orville, Raymond, Lloyd, Charles and Hilmer Hovelson; sisters, Myrtle Erickson and Maxine Larson.
Public visitation will begin 5 pm December 13th, 2018 at Zoeller Funeral Home, New Braunfels, TX with a Eulogy by his family and friends starting at 7pm and a Rosary recited after. Funeral Mass will be held on December 14th, 2018 with a viewing at 9am and mass at 10am at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Canyon Lake, TX with interment to follow at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Eric Hovelson, Brandon Bodenhamer, Scott Bodenhamer, Robert Bodenhamer, Steven Bodenhamer, Kyle Hovelson, Oliver Fuentes and Dan Bodenhamer. Honorary Pallbearers: The Memorial Service Detachment Honor Guards.
A heartfelt thank you to the entire staff at the Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home in Floresville TX. Your compassion and love will never be forgotten. Arrangements under the direction of Zoeller Funeral Home, 615 Landa St, New Braunfels, TX 78130.
