Obituary of Clara Mathilde Swenson Hovland

Clara Mathilde Swenson Hovland, 95, died on Tuesday, July 6th at University Hospitals in Iowa City after a long illness. A memorial service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Iowa City on Sunday, July 11th at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Tim Malek officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Norseland Lutheran Church cemetery in Norseland, Minnesota, the home church where many of Clara’s relatives are buried. Clara was born June 12, 1909 at home in New Sweden Township near St. Peter, Minnesota to Oscar Swenson and Bertha Jensen, the fourth of their five children. After attending country school, she graduated from St. Peter High School and received a B.A. in English in 1932 from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. She was a gifted and inspiring high school teacher for more than twenty-five years, beginning in Nicollet, Minnesota in 1934 and later in Wells, Hayfield, and Moose Lake, Minnesota. She was certified as a French teacher in the late 50’s and spent her last 12 years in Osceola, Wisconsin where she taught English, French, and speech and coached class plays. She married Melvin Hovland on November 12, 1944 in St. Paul, Minnesota. They lived for twenty years in Mahtomedi, Minnesota where they raised their two sons. Clara retired from teaching in 1970 when she and her husband moved to Sun City, Arizona where Melvin died on February 16, 1978. In Arizona, Clara worked for many years as a docent at the Phoenix Art Museum and was a popular and much sought-after speaker on various art history topics. In 1996, Clara moved to Oaknoll Retirement Residence in Iowa City to be near her grandsons, Sven and Bjorn. In Iowa City she was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and of the Norse Club. An avid bridge player and reader, Clara spent her later years enjoying the company of friends and relatives, discussing her favorite topics of history, politics and literature. Blessed with a remarkable memory, she was the unofficial family historian and could recount important events in vivid detail until she died. Clara is survived by her two sons and their families: John Hovland, his wife Candy and daughter Christina of San Ramon, California; Michael Hovland, his wife Nancy Jones and sons Sven and Bjorn of Iowa City. She is also survived by her sister Eda John of Sun City, Arizona. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and one sister. Memorials may be made to Iowa City Hospice, 1025 Wade Street, Iowa City, IA 52240.