Joan Rae (Washburn) Hovet, beloved daughter of David and Elizabeth Washburn and sister of Marla Olson, Diane Berglund, and Richard Washburn, all of whom preceded her in death, is now joyfully reunited with them in heaven. "Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Lord." – Matthew 25:23. Joan is also survived by sisters Marianne Washburn and Kathy Rollins. Joan was born on May 3, 1935, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and passed away peacefully on April 10, 2026, at the age of 90, surrounded by loved ones.

Joan dedicated her life to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and faithfully cared for her family and community. She was a beloved wife to Clinton "Sam" Hovet for just shy of 73 beautiful years. Sam was the love of her life, her high school sweetheart since their sophomore year. They were united in marriage on October 10, 1953, building a life centered on love, faith, and devotion to one another.

Joan lived with humble contentment, finding joy in life's simple blessings. She was loving and slow to anger, extending grace and mercy to all, and striving daily to reflect the love of Jesus. She was a devoted and loving mother to her daughter, Deb (Dan) Skelly, and her son, Dave (Pam) Hovet.

She was blessed with six grandchildren, whom she loved and cherished deeply: Samantha (Dave) Nikkel, Staci (Adam) Godfrey, Brent Magnuson, Jake (Ashley) Skelly, Micah (Julie) Hovet, and Erik Hovet, who preceded her in death and with whom she is now reunited in heaven. "And so we will be with the Lord forever." – 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Joan was also a proud great-grandmother to many great-grandchildren, each bringing her great joy, laughter, and treasured memories, a beautiful reflection of God's faithfulness through generations.

Joan found great joy in spending time with family and friends, especially playing cards and sharing laughter together. She had a creative spirit and loved crafting, often making special memories with her grandchildren through hands-on projects. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, and quilting, and lovingly made quilts for each of her great-grandchildren while she was able, gifts that will be treasured for years to come.

Joan and Sam loved camping and spending time outdoors together. Even then, Joan rarely sat idle, often bringing along her sewing machine to work on projects while Sam was out fishing.

She faithfully invested in her community by volunteering her time teaching a Sunlight class to children at Full Gospel Church, sharing her love for the Lord and for others. Joan also worked at Federal Cartridge in Anoka, helped run the family bait shop, Sam's Bait Shop, of Grand Rapids, and later devoted herself fully to being a homemaker.

Joan will be remembered most for her unwavering faith in the Lord and her beautiful love story with Sam, a life together spanning 76 years, rooted in love, commitment, and faith. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her, but her legacy of faith, love, and devotion will live on in the hearts of her family for generations to come.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, April 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Rowe Funeral Home, Grand Rapids, MN. Following the visitation, a burial will take place at Itasca Calvary Cemetery. The burial will be reserved for the immediate family. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." – 2 Timothy 4:7

The family would like to thank River Grand Memory Care and St. Croix Hospice for the loving care they provided for our loved one.

Arrangements are with Rowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Grand Rapids, MN. To sign the online guestbook or send condolences visit www.rowefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.