Steva Hougen

1929 - 2021

 Steva Hougen, beloved wife of the late Engwald Hougen, passed away in Bow Island on Friday, December 3, 2021 at the age of 92 years.

 A private funeral service was held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Foremost on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. Burial followed at the Foremost Cemetery. 

 Steva will be forever loved and dearly remembered for her caring ways by her two children, nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. She will be fondly remembered by her son Darrell (Karen) Hougen and their two children Shannon (Kristoffer) Shiloff (their family Aksel and Liv) and Brandon Hougen; her daughter Frances (Ken) King and their three children Rylan (Larei) King (their family Vaera, Kaelyn, Tony and Bowdry), Marnee (Trevor) Dejong (their family Oliver, Isla and Esme) and Lael (Randell) King (their family Haevyn and Sterling). She is also survived by her brother-in-law Marvin Hougen, sisters-in-law Delores Hougen, Dolores Hougen, Isabella Hougen, Pauline Hougen, Myrtle Allison and by numerous nieces and nephews. 

She was predeceased by her husband Engwald Hougen; son Larry Hougen; sister Annie Johnson; brother Bruno (Emma) Yizek; brothers-in-law Trygve (Peggy) Hougen, Palmer Hougen, Arnie Hougen, Magnus Hougen, Charlie Hougen and Stewart Allison; nephews Charlie Hougen, Lorn Hougen, Randy Allison and a niece, Arlene Stang.

 Steva was born in Etzikom on September 8, 1929 to Michael and Mary Yizek. She was raised on the family homestead her father built east of Pakowki and had many happy memories of school and community gatherings in Orion. After finishing school at eighteen, she attended business school in Medicine Hat and then started a job with the Royal Bank of Canada in Foremost, as a secretary. Steva was good at shorthand and typing and throughout the years it came in handy typing her favourite family recipes. She was a good cook and well known in town for donating her famous maple walnut chiffon cake to be auctioned off at the library fundraiser.

 Steva married Engwald in 1951 and they both felt very blessed to have each other for fifty five years. They had three children that kept her busy. She loved to sew and quilt, cook and clean, attend most sporting events, curl and help with her church in every way possible. She made time for everything and yet enjoyed time for herself being with her friends and especially her much loved sisters-in-law. She couldn’t wait to get in the vehicle and start a holiday. Waterton camping and hiking was the place she created so many memories throughout the years. A second home in Arizona for over thirty years, was a highlight every winter, golfing, shopping, supporting many good restaurants and flea markets. After many years of supporting the flea markets, Steva helped start the community yard sales in Foremost. All special occasions, from rodeos to church picnics, were times to be celebrated with others. She had a heart for the less fortunate and loved to support them by sewing diapers and blankets for Lutheran World Relief. Vacation Bible School was a must for all children every summer and she still continued to support, pray and loved attending as they shared that Jesus loves us.

 Steva’s last five years were spent at the Foremost Senior Manor and she really enjoyed all the senior activities. She especially loved organizing the bus rides to the city or outings to various places of interest. Her coffee breaks and getting together to catch up on the news were important to her and so were the people she chatted with along the way.

 If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Steva’s name may be made directly to the Foremost Historical Society, Box 412, Foremost, Alberta T0K 0X0 or to a charity of one’s personal choice.