Ken Hoovestol died January 30th in his Helena Montana apartment, from an apparent heart attack.
He was born 1937 in Dunn Center ND, and grew up in the Devils Lake ND area before moving to Livingston Montana in 1947 where he graduated from High School.
He was active in the Livingston JCs and Search and Rescue. He married Virginia O’Neill in 1957 and worked for his family business, the Livingston Paint and Glass Company and Ski-Doo snowmobile dealership until it burnt down in 1969. He then worked for several snowmobile companies as a factory representative in Oregon and Washington before returning Billings Montana in 1974. There, he worked for snowmobile and turf equipment distributers. He then and moved to Flathead Lake became a real estate broker and later Great Falls with his second wife, Joan Faught who he was with from 1980 until about 1990. He moved to Helena in 1994, where he worked part time as a lobbyist consultant at the state legislature until he retired in 2003.
Throughout his adult life he promoted the sport of snowmobiling. He lead the first recreational snowmobile trip into Yellowstone Park in the late 1960’s. He was one of the first snowmobile dealers in Montana and worked as a volunteer lobbyist and served as the Legislative Chairman for the Montana Snowmobile Association for about 25 years. He was also an honorary member of the Iron Dog Brigade. He enjoyed politics and the outdoors.
He is survived by his four children, David of Yuma Arizona, Bryan of Hudson Wisconsin, Kendra of Seaside Oregon, Erik of Banks Oregon, and 10 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Donna of Alabama and his fiancé Dianela Pollentes of the Philippines.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 10:00 AM at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, 1400 Stuart St. Helena, MT 59601
Memorials are requested to go to the Montana Snowmobile Association, at http://www.m-s-a.org/
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.aswfuneralhome.com
Service Schedule
Service Schedule
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Bob & Judy Morgah says
Eric, to you and your family we send our sympathy with love and prayers.
Bob Gilbert says
Family of Ken. I knew Ken well dating back to the CB’ing days in Livingston.Can’t remember his call sign right now. Also I was with him many hours at the capital as a lobbyist. My thoughts are with you all. I liked Ken.
Cherrayl Briggs Harrsch says
On behalf of the Carol (Bernie) Briggs family, we send our thoughts for the family. We all have memories of sno-mobiling up in Millcreek, Bozeman Pass, Crazies, and Cooke City.
Cherrayl Briggs Harrsch (oldest daughter)
Lindie Fink Gibson says
Dear Virginia and family – I was so sorry to hear of your loss. I have good memories of your family when you were at American Lutheran in Livingston. God bless you all in your sad time of loss…
Mr and Mrs. Ed Farrington and Roxanne Tata says
Dear Hoovestol family,
We are sorry for the sudden loss of your father. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
God Bless,
Ed and Mary Farrington and Roxanne Tata and family
Roger Hagan says
Hoovestol Family, I am saddened by your loss. Your Dad was a dear friend. I first met him when we worked on the Big Flag project in Great Falls. Ken was my mentor in the lobbying world and taught me a lot.
Know you are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless. Roger Hagan