Lonnie Hoium

Lonnie Leroy Hoium, age 56, passed away on the evening of Saturday, February 1, 2014, at the Bethany Care Center in Alexandria, Minnesota. He was born on April 13, 1957, in Glenwood, Minnesota, to George Hoium and Fay Zarbok Hoium. He was baptized, confirmed, married and remains a faithful member of St. John's Lutheran Church of Villard.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Cindy, his three sons and greatest joy of his life, Brett and wife, Sam (Mikkelson) of rural Villard, Derek of Cold Spring, Kyle of Melrose, his parents, George and Fay, of Alexandria, and his sister Melody Faber of Alexandria; nephews and nieces, Cody of Alexandria, Ashlee of St. Cloud and Jenell of Fort Worth, TX, Michael Velde of Minnetonka, MN. Other survivors include aunts, uncles, cousins, Cindy's family and a multitude of friends. Lonnie's ever faithful four-legged companion, Maggie, along with "the big guy" Mick and the grand puppies will also miss his presence and love.
Lonnie graduated from Villard High School in 1975. While in high school he excelled in basketball and shocked everyone when he took on a role in a school play during his senior year. That remained one of his favorite memories of high school. He attended Alexandria Technical College where he enrolled in the Production Agriculture course and then moved on to pursue his passion of a successful, rewarding career dairy and crop farming. He and Cindy were married in October of 1976 and purchased their farm in 1979.
He continued to play basketball for many years. He shared his love of the game by coaching youth basketball, helping referee at youth games and the annual alumni tournament in Osakis. Lonnie had a lifetime love for dirt track auto racing which he shared with his sons. Watching them pursue their hobbies and work, whether it be the racing by Brett, fishing or the countless home and yard projects by Derek or Kyle's basketball and career path, Lonnie was so very proud. Another source of comfort and joy to Lonnie was anything that involved improvements or time at our place on Smith Lake. We spent countless hours sitting around the campfire as a family and always felt peace and tranquility when there. Above all these things and while doing them he set an example of the importance of faith, family and friends in his life. He had a very kind heart and from the day he met someone, he was quick to claim them as his friend.
Lonnie's eternal optimism and good nature could not be broken even as he fought a battle that ultimately took him from us. Even through this, he found an opportunity to build new bonds with his many medical providers and caregivers. Our family will forever be grateful to all of them but above all the care, support and compassion shown by Dr. Gregory Scherr, Nurse Becky, Amanda and team at Central Minnesota Neuroscience, along with Patty and everyone with Douglas County Hospice.
Visitation will be on Tuesday evening, February 4 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Villard from 4 - 8 pm.
Visitation will resume at 10:00 a.m. prior to the funeral service on Wednesday, February 5 at 11:00 a.m. at Alexandria Covenant Church in Alexandria. Following a time of fellowship, interment will be at Lake Leven Cemetery, Villard with casketbearers, Jim Grundman, Chris Faber, Mitch Zarbok, Guy Berg, Curtis Hoium and Chad Gerdes.
Memorial donations are preferred.
Arrangements are with the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home, Osakis, Minnesota

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