Paul Hovdey

Paul Hovdey died of neuro-endocrine cancer at the age of 65 at his home in Nampa on December 23, 2009. His wife and son Ryan were present. Paul was born to Olive and Fred Hovdey on October 12, 1944 in Seattle, Washington. Paul was the second of five sons. His brothers Carl, Dale, and Dean were also born in Seattle. His parents moved their family back to the Stillwater Valley in 1953, where his mother's family homesteaded. Paul's youngest brother John was born in Columbus in 1954. The Hovdey boys became great friends and spent many special moments together. Paul attended school in Dean, Absorokee and Columbus, where he graduated from high school in 1962. That summer, the family moved to Missoula where Paul attended the University of Montana. In 1966 Paul enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and became an Air Traffic Controller. After four years of military service, Paul returned to the University of Montana and then became a civilian Air Traffice Controller in Great Falls, Montana. Growing up in Montana enabled Paul to develop a fierce appreciation of nature and all it's wonders. Paul was an avid fisherman, hiker, bicylist, golfer and skier during his lifetime. It certainly seemed appropriate that he would meet his wife in Yellowstone park after the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 while on a bicycle tour with friends. An act of nature brought them together as the ash fallout that day became so thick that Paul and his friends were forced to find refuge at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel where Wendy was employed at the time. Paul loved to tell the story of how they met and they returned to Yellowstone Park many times throughout their marriage alone and with family or friends to enjoy the beauty of Yellowstone. Paul and Wendy were married on August 8, 1981. Their son Ryan was born on March 16, 1986. It was in Great Falls that Paul developed a love for remodeling and building homes. Paul was a strong, kind and gracious man who loved and was not afraid to express that love to his many friends and family members throughout his lifetime. He called his special friends "Bro" because they,too, were like brothers to him. He appreciated fine craftmanship and approached any project with a sense of purpose and care, whether it was in building a home or tuning a pair of skis. He was a great country western swing dancer and loved acoustic guitar music. He and Wendy loved living in Boise where they moved in 1990 and especially enjoyed dancing with friends at Alive After Five. Paul was a graceful skiier who loved to ski the "powd" especially at Brundage Mountain and he shared his enthusiasm for skiing with everyone who knew him. He built his family a home in McCall, Idaho in 2005, with plans to retire there eventually. Before he died, he told his wife Wendy, son Ryan, and any friends and family members that he could "I am going to miss you guys." Pablo, as he liked to be called by his close friends, was a hero to many of us, and we will miss his generous and fun loving spirit. Paul celebrated life with passion and integrity. Paul was preceded in death by both his parents and younger brother John. He is survived by his wife Wendy, son Ryan, brothers Carl, Dale (Chriss), Dean (Patty) and many relatives and friends. Wendy and Ryan would like to thank everyone who has supported them through Paul's difficult and terrible battle against cancer. As Bro Bruce said " We have been blessed with the BEST of times and friendship and that is a lot to be thankful for. " Paul would want you to please take every moment of joy that passes your way. One of the last dreams that he had was that he was in a ski shop buying new skis. He asked that we don't cry for him, he is free from the pain of cancer now. We did not want to say goodbye, but we will for now.... There will be a memorial celebration of his life in the spring to allow his family and friends some time to recover from their loss and enable them to celebrate his life in the way that he wanted: with music, love, laughter and happy memories. Memorials in his name will be appreciated if they are given to The Yellowstone Park Foundation. 37 East Main Street, Suite 4 Bozeman, MT 59715.