Venita Idel Lovan was born at home near Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, on October 28, 1930 to Thelma and Pete Galloway. She passed away at home on May 11, 2021. Her fondest childhood memories were on the Niobara River. She never learned to swim but she remembers her uncle throwing her into the river, her sinking and then crawling her way out on the bottom of the river. Her family moved to Idaho when she was around 8 years old. She spent several years in Cascade. It suited her lifelong love of horses to be able to ride a horse to school both in Nebraska and Idaho in the heavy snow. She also lived in Payette, Idaho for a short time.
After moving to Meridian, she met and married Wallace D. Lovan in March of 1948. She was most proud achieving her GED and then becoming a licensed cosmetologist. She had a salon in her home for many years. After Wally’s “retirement”, they formed Cherry Lane Recreation Inc. and were instrumental in the early formation of the golf course in Meridian, known then as Cherry Lane Golf Club. They worked endless hours and over the years saw the course grow from 9 holes to 18. They opened the present day club house just prior to Wally’s death in 2000. During those years, Nita also got her realtor’s license. She will be remembered as a very hard worker. Some of her greatest joy was found with a shovel and a rake in the flower garden.
She and Wally never stopped traveling and were able to visit many countries. Nita always teased Wally about the cabana boy in Costa Rica. Their travel took them to Europe where they commemorated Wally’s years as a paratrooper in WWII by visiting Italy and France. Together and with friends they made many trips worldwide, filling a cardboard box with travel brochures.
She is survived by her daughter Nancy (Tom) Link and son Richard (Laree) Lovan. She is also survived by her grandchildren Jennifer Lovan, Brian (Cat) Link and David Link, Ricky (Chantel) Lovan and Wally (Karalee) Lovan, James (Cindy) Rose, and Cheryl Rose; Great grandchildren Angel, Nikki, Kaya, Alexuis, Cody, Brianna, Jayden, Maikaya, Lane, Skyler, Johnny, Jennifer and Great-Great Grandchildren Dakoda, Grizzly, Pearl, River Rose, and Jax and many other close family members.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Wallace D. Lovan, her parents, Thelma and Pete Galloway, and her sister Janice Kenagy.
She will be inurned at a later time in the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery with her beloved husband.
Family and friends are invited to an open visitation to celebrate Nita’s life on May 19, 2021 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at Cloverdale Funeral Home Gibson Chapel 1200 N. Cloverdale Rd. Donations in her memory are appreciated to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Web: https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/giving