Joan E. Hovdestad

Joan Edith McCollor Hovdestad

Joan Edith McCollor was born August 6, 1933, to Ray and Esther Logan McCollor in Sebeka, Wadena County, MN. Their firstborn child, she and her parents soon moved to Park Rapids, Hubbard County, MN. There Joan grew up with her brother, Bob, and twin sisters Kathryn and Margaret. She was a very good student and active in many school and church functions. She was noted primarily for her work as an outstanding soloist as well as acting in many dramas throughout her high school and college years. When the local librarian became ill, Joan ran the Park Rapids Public Library for over a year while still in high school, until her mother stepped into the job.

It was in high school where she caught the eye of the love of her life, Russell Hovdestad. Before he even asker her out, Russell told his father he was going to marry her. He did ask her out, and eventually asked her to marry him, but she insisted that she finish college first. Thus, on June 11, 1955, after she graduated from Bemidji State University with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education, and Russell had returned from his service in the U.S. Army based in Germany, they wed at the United Methodist Church in Park Rapids, MN.

Together Joan and Russell moved to Moorhead, MN, where Joan began her teaching career in the Fargo Public Schools, while Russell, taking advantage of the GI Bill, began college at Moorhead State. Joan’s first years in the Fargo Public School System were at Horace Mann Elementary where she was also the librarian and head of the drama department. She later transferred to Agassiz Junior High, where she taught 6th Grade World History for many years. In 1978, Joan received her Master’s Degree in education from North Dakota State University, publishing her master’s thesis on “A Comparative Study of Sixth Grade Achievement in Self-Contained and Departmentalized Programs.” In 1987, Joan was again transferred, this time for one year to Jefferson Elementary School, which was a self contained classroom. Joan said it was the happiest year of teaching she ever had, because she could really get to know the children and their individual learning needs. The following year, she was transferred back to Agassiz, where she taught mathematics to 6th graders for the final years of her career. In 1993, after 38 years in the Fargo School System, Joan retired due to ill health.

Joan truly enjoyed her retirement, especially being with Russell until his death in 2003. She loved to garden at the lakes, reading her books, listening to music, and of course, doing her projects. Whether it was perfecting a recipe, designing and redecorating her home, or her philanthropic work, making sure children had the tools they needed to be successful life-long learners, Joan kept up to date and busy every single day.

As a lifelong educator, let this be her last and most important lesson to all…please tell the people who are part of your life that you love them every time you say goodnight or goodbye, and you will never have regrets.
On May 28, 2015, God called Joan home after an extended illness at Mayo’s St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. She will be sorely missed by her daughter, Elizabeth Hovdestad of Moorhead, MN; her son, Mark Roxanne Murphy Hovdestad of Bemidji, MN; brother, Robert Donna McCollor of Minneapolis, MN; sisters, Kathryn Jerry Stigman of Pelican Rapids, MN, Margaret Thompson of Fort Lauderdale, FL; aunts, Elise Guldseth of Minneapolis, MN, Carol Logan of Milwaukee, WI; sister-in-law, Ann Hovdestad of Fargo, ND; brothers-in-law, Harold Hovdestad of Desert Edge, CA, Stanley Wendy Hovdestad of Tucson, AZ, as well as umpteen nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Joan’s life will be held at Wright Funeral Home in Moorhead on Wednesday, June 10, between 5 and 7 p.m. Please join our family in sharing memories and commemorating her peaceful passing, and remember she loved you all.

Video tribute and online guestbook at www.wrightfuneral.com