Stephen Paul Hovey

On Friday, July 31, 2026, we bid farewell to Stephen Paul Hovey, as he returned to the loving arms of our Heavenly Father and the company of his parents and siblings. The consequences of long-term COVID took him after five years of severe illness.

Stephen was born on March 31, 1954, to Paul Leslie Hovey and Kate Margaret Hoffman Hovey in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He attended Temple View Elementary, Central Junior High, and was in the first graduating class of Skyline High School. He attended Ricks College, and BYU. Later on, he finished his bachelor degree and graduated from BYU. Dad's life was forever changed when he went to a single's ward Halloween party and met a cute girl in a newspaper hat and called her Admiral-Admiral. He later married his sweetheart, Deanna Jolene Jensen, in the Idaho Falls Temple. Dad and the newspaper-hat-wearing girl started a family that grew to include Benjamin, Stephanie, James, and Andrew. They were married for forty-eight years.

Dad was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Coltman, Temple View, and Sage Creek Wards where he especially enjoyed serving in the Sunday School. He touched the lives of our family and countless friends and neighbors through prayer and acts of service. He was a friend, source of jokes, and tireless supplier of candy to friends, neighbor families and children on Orlinda Lane, Cameron Avenue, and North Pointe Drive.

Throughout his life Stephen worked hard, around our home, at the INL site, and part time at Grand Central to make sure that our family was well cared for, wanted for nothing, his sweetheart was spoiled, and there was always a supply of pronto pups, ramen, burritos, or other treats on hand. Dad was active in the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers Union where he worked with others to ensure fair and safe working conditions for others working in support of research and national defense. He also helped with safety training, which he called Hazwopper Training. He taught us all the value of hard work, even if we didn't always appreciate the lesson in the moment.

Dad had a lifelong love of learning, especially reading ancient history of Egypt and the Roman Empire, science fiction, and classic literature. His favorite authors were Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and H.G. Wells. He enjoyed building models since his youth, even saving some of his WWII warships and planes to display in his office. His wit, wisdom, wry sense of humor, and funny stories were always evident and a constant source of joy at family gatherings, on visits from friends or neighbors, and phone calls he made to his kids and grandkids.

Dad will join his parents, Paul and Kate Hovey; and brothers, Wilford and Wayne Hovey, who preceded him in death.

He is survived by his loving wife, Deanna Hovey (no longer wearing the newspaper Admiral hat); daughter, Stephanie (ex-husband Jesse) Van Sant; sons, Benjamin Hovey, James (daughter-in-law, Angela) Hovey, and Andrew Hovey; brother, Kent Hovey; and grandchildren, Ian, Annabelle, Kylie, and Gracie. We will all miss him terribly.

We wish to extend our hearty and heartfelt thanks to the staff of Community Hospital ICU, especially Doctors Miller and Cheney, RNs Hayley, Madi, and Derreck. The entire team at Aspen Home Health and Hospice was nothing short of amazing. We can't find the words to express our love and gratitude for our Sage Creek Ward family, your loving care and assistance has meant an indescribable amount to us and will not be forgotten.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the Idaho Falls North Stake, 955 Memorial Dr. The family will visit with friends Friday from 6-8:00 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Avenue, and Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Grant-Central Cemetery.