Mavis Juliet Ness

Mavis Juliet (Hovland) Ness was born on August 10, 1931, to Joseph and Mabel (Haugse) Hovland on the farm east of Rothsay. She died on Monday, December 14, 2015, at the Fergus Falls Veterans Home, after a long battle with dementia. She grew up on the family farm near Rothsay and graduated from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in 1949. Following graduation, Mavis attended beauty school in Fergus Falls and worked in Fergus Falls and Barnesville.

On March 16, 1952, she married Ernest Ness. They were married for 43 years and had five children. They lived in Lawndale, MN, from 1952-1963, and Argyle, MN, from 1963-1985, where she was an excellent homemaker. After retirement, Ernie and Mavis enjoyed many summers at Lake Lida and winters in Apache Junction, AZ. Baking, reading, playing cards, painting, and enjoying family and friends were her favorite pastimes. Mavis was active in the Argyle American Legion Auxiliary and church activities at North Immanuel in rural Pelican Rapids and Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Argyle.

She is survived by daughters, Nancy Roche of Cumming, GA, Judy Elston of Spiritwood, ND, Sheryl (Glenn) Stoltman of Argyle, MN; son Jerry (Karen) Ness, Lake Lida; and daughter-in-law Kim Ness of Green Bay, WI; 15 grandsons and two granddaughters; 17 great-grandsons and four great-granddaughters; and several nieces and nephews.

Mavis was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie; son Randy; grandson Andy; sons-in-law, Jim Elston and Chris Roche; sisters, Eunice Hovland and Ruby Moen; brothers, Alvin, Ken, Norris and Ray Hovland.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the dementia wing at the Fergus Falls Veterans Home Village.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service
Service: 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 18, 2015 at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Officiants: Reverends Tom Peterson and Pete Martinson
Burial: West-North Immanuel Cemetery, rural Pelican Rapids