Covey, Marlo Ernest 1944-2026

COVEY, WICKSTROM, BOXUM

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/15/2026 at 14:26:23

Mr. Marlo Covey, age 82, of Hull, passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at the Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Wednesday, May 27, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Hope Christian Reformed Church in Hull. A prayer service will take place on Thursday, May 28, at 10:00am, at the church, followed by interment at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. There will be a memorial service on Thursday at 11:00am at the church with the Rev. Keith Hoekstra officiating. The Oolman Funeral Home in Hull is in charge of arrangements.

Marlo Ernest was born on January 30, 1944, in Winner, South Dakota, one of four children born to Ernest A. and Esther S. (Wickstrom) Covey. He was raised on a ranch in rural Hamill, South Dakota, where he attended country school through the sixth grade and graduated from the Winner High School. He received his bachelor's degree in animal science from South Dakota State University in Brookings.

On July 24, 1970, he married Vivian Joy Boxum in her hometown of Lynden, Washington. They initially made their home in Hamill, and then for a few years in Leota, Minnesota, before moving to Northwest Iowa. Marlo raised cattle on acreages near Sioux Center and Hull, something he continued to do for as long as he was physically able. During that time, he also worked for a number of years as a beef production specialist for Land O'Lakes and Farmers Coop Society, and as a recreational advocate for Village Northwest Unlimited in Sheldon. In 2018, Marlo and Vivian moved to the Homestead Cooperative in Hull, and in October of 2025, Marlo became a resident of the Pleasant Acres Care Center.

Marlo was currently a member of the Hope Christian Reformed Church in Hull, and a former member of the Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center and the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota. He was active in all three churches, serving as an elder and teaching both Sunday school and Catechism. Marlo was very passionate about sports and closely followed the Western Christian Wolfpack sports teams, though his greatest joy was attending his grandchildren's activities, and in earlier years, his children's activities.

Marlo’s faith was a very integral part of his life, as evidenced by his quiet but consistent adherence to his Christian world and life view. Even during a fading thought process, he always enjoyed and grasped the hope found in one of his favorite passages, Psalm 23, read to him by Viv almost daily. He was a man of prayer who prayed daily for his entire family and knew his Lord and Savior.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 56 years, Vivian, of Hull; five sons and their families: Mike Covey, of Hull, and his children: Brady (Allison) Covey, and their son, Jettson, and a second child on the way, of Hull; Rachel (Austin) Faber, and their son, Meritt, of Sioux Center; and Addison Covey, of Hull; Mark and Emily Covey, of Sioux City, and their children: Kendra (Roger Fender) Covey, of Sioux City; Carson (Madison) Covey, and their daughter, Palmer, of Sioux City; and Kali (fiance Derek Anderson) Covey, of Sioux City; Matt and Charissa Covey, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and their children: Quin Covey; Charles Covey; Marlowe Covey; and Campbell Covey, all of Chattanooga; Tim and Tracy Covey, of Clermont, Florida, and their children: Katie Covey; Carter Covey; and Ben Covey, all of Clermont; and Jon and Kelsey Covey, of Sanborn, and their children: Hattie Covey; Benson Covey; and Theo Covey, all of Sanborn; a sister and her husband, Marlene and Rod Compaan, of Sioux Falls; a sister-in-law, Ida Covey, of Hamill; and Vivian's siblings, Steven and Carolyn Boxum, of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada; Lavonne and Greg Geleynse, of Mount Vernon, Washington; and David and Peggy Boxum, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Jackie Covey; a sister and her husband, Lucille and Larry Eilers; and a brother, Wayne Covey.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be given to the Hull Christian School and the Western Christian High School in Hull.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.