[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 112 (Friday, August 12, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    HONORING MARCENE ELEANOR HOVALDT

                                 ______


                       HON. ESTEBAN EDWARD TORRES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 12, 1994

  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Marcene Eleanor 
Hovaldt. On the morning of August 19, 1934, in the midst of a severe 
dust storm, a midwife was called to deliver the seventh child to Lily 
and Chris Hovaldt. Their small farm was located several miles out of 
town--Parker, South Dakota, population less than 800. Parker was a 
small farming community made up mostly of immigrants from Denmark, as 
were the Hovaldts. Thus was born Marcene Eleanor Hovaldt.
  Marcene grew up basically as a lone child as her two older sisters 
were 15 and 17 years older respectively, and the youngest of the four 
boys was 5 years older. So Marcene played by herself and dreamt while 
lying under cottonwood trees; and dream she did.
  An unfortunate childhood accident left her blinded in one eye, but 
this nor other hardships, such as epidemics of whooping cough and 
scarlet fever, even a bout with polio, prevented her from forging 
ahead. The first 8 years of her education was at country school, a one 
room schoolhouse. All eight grades were taught by one teacher. High 
School meant going to school in town. When Marcene graduated from 
Parker High School she was one of 21 graduates.
  The dreams started to come true when Marcene attended Southern 
Teachers College, this got her off the farm and to the big city, Sioux 
Falls. Her working career started not as a teacher, but as an 
underwriter for an insurance company. Several years later, looking for 
greener pastures, she and a girlfriend headed for Denver, Colorado. 
Here she found four girls who not only became roommates at the time, 
but have remained lifelong friends. It was also in Denver that she was 
married and gave birth to Edward II and Mercedes.
  This was a stressful time for Marcene as she lost both parents and 
due to a genetic heart problem, the premature death of all four 
brothers before their 45th birthdays. Each of her sisters also suffered 
multiple heart attacks, as well as bypass surgery with one sister 
passing in 1988. Marcene has been very fortunate that this malady has 
not affected her.
  Marcie moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 1964. Her marriage ended 
in divorce and as a single parent, she raised Edward and Mercedes. In 
1980 Marcie married Stanley Galkin who also brought to this union 
Kathleen, Robert, and Laura. Today the marriages of their five children 
have resulted in Marie's greatest joy, being ``Grammy'' to her seven 
wonderful grandchildren.
  Marcie's working career led her to become Human Resource Manager of 
Inter Corporation's Federal Region, later to become the Human Resource 
Manager of the Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. H.M.O., Washington, 
DC region. She currently holds a position with the Prince George's 
County Hospice as director of human resources.
  Marcie is always there for everyone, those she knows, as well as 
those she doesn't. She is not one to hold out a helping hand, it is 
always two helping hands. She is a good friend and confidante to many. 
Marcie's life like a pebble thrown into a pond: the ripples multiply 
and extend further and further.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues here assembled to join me in paying 
tribute to the many attributes of Marcie as a community leader and a 
true American.

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