Blaine L. Hoien Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Blaine Leland Hoien was born to Soren & Minnie (Anatomina) Hoien on Februrary 27, 1921 and was schooled in the Danish Hamlet of Ringsted, Iowa where Soren was the manager for Emmet County State Bank and Minnie was a tremendous baker and homemaker. After years of playing and working on realtive's farms in Jack Creek Township, and spending countless mornings hunting ducks and other game with his father, Blaine graduated and moved on to the University of Iowa. Blaine obtained his Bachelor of Science in Commerce while going through the ROTC flight training program. Blaine graduated with his pilot's license and as Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corp. Blaine spent his war years in Georgia, California, and Colorado, all the while training other pilots as well as advancing himself. He ended his service to his country piloting the P-61 Black Widow night fighter in the China-Burma-Indian theatre, a 3 crew screamer of the skies powered with 4500 horsepower designed to fly below radar, at night, at speeds in excess of 350mph. Blaine moved to Spirit Lake after the war to start his career with First Bank & Trust. Next door, a brunette by the name of Dorothy Doudna was working the soda fountain at Doudna Drug. Chats over a milkshake ended in marriage on May 22, 1949. It was a great beginning to a new life for Blaine and Dorothy. After 5 years of sitting behind a desk, the decision was made to strike out on his own in the real estate and insurance business. Dickinson County was the poorest county in the state at that time, so things were not easy; thank God there were ducks to hunt, and Ford's Locker on Hill Ave. to keep them frozen! Blaine and Dorothy raised 4 children in the 'shack on the lake'; Mike, Mary, Rebecca and Eric grew up eating lots of duck, all graduating Spirit Lake schools, and moving on to lives of their own, each embracing their individuality. Throughout his over 50 years as a real estate professional, and 60 plus years as a Kiwanian, his thoughtfulness, compassion, and genuine concern for others was a constant that made, and kept, countless friendships over the years. Blaine was just another soul on this earth, but a truly amazing one to those that knew him. You could find Blaine smacking it down the fairway, going for a swim in Big Spirit at the end of the day, sitting in a duck blind in Boissevain, Canada every October with his buddies, expounding to just about everyone how great it was to live in this little corner of the world, visiting with all his Ringsted clan, going for long walks on the farm, playing cards at Tweeter's, and being a great Dad and Husband. Passing prior to Blaine was Dorothy and daughter Mary. Those left on this earth are his special friend of 20 years Roberta Carlson, Susan and Mike Hoien of Spirit Lake, Rebecca Hoien & Bill Fortis of Coeur d' Alene, ID and children Samuel and Jessica, Mary's daughter Angelis of Iowa City, and Kelly & Eric Hoien of Spirit Lake, with children Riley, Josie, and Finley. A full, well-lived life. We'll see you another day....

Blaine L. Hoien

February 27, 1921 - November 14, 2013