Meet Our Team

Rich Hovendick is a lifelong resident of Beatrice, having graduated from Beatrice Public Schools in 1975. Rich is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, and pre-need salesman. He is married to Linda (Woltemath) and they have two daughters, Britney and Ashton. Rich's civic involvements include:

• Member and President of the Beatrice Community Hospital Foundation Board of Directors
• Former member and Past President of the Beatrice Educational Foundation
• Former member and Past President of the Beatrice Area Arts Council
• Member and President of the Hevelone Foundation
• Member of the Beatrice Noon Kiwanis Club
• Member and Past Senior Warden of Christ Church Episcopal
• Member of the Sesostris Temple of the Shrine
• Member and Past President of the Blue Valley Shrine Club
• Member and Past President of the Beatrice Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
• Former member of the Beatrice Fraternal Order of Eagles
• Past President of the Beatrice Jaycees
• Past Treasurer and Vice President of the Nebraska Jaycees
• Past member of the Beatrice YMCA Board of Directors
• Announcer of Beatrice High School home sporting contests
• Member of Friends of Homestead board of directors
• Member of Community Food Pantry & Emergency Services board of directors

Rich's professional involvements include:

• Member of the Nebraska Funeral Directors Association
• Member of the National Funeral Directors Association

Linda's civic involvements include:

• Past President of the Beatrice Jaycees
• Member and Past Vestry Person of Christ Church Episcopal
• Member and Treasurer of Christ Church Episcopal Evening Guild
• Member of PEO Chapter Z
• Past member of the Women's Division, Image and Leadership Committees of the Beatrice Chamber of Commerce
• Past member of the Beatrice and Nebraska Women of Today
• Past member of the Gage County United Way Board of Directors

Samantha Thompson is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, and pre-need counselor serving families at Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel and managing Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore. A fourth-generation funeral professional, Samantha is proud to continue her family’s long-standing tradition of compassionate service to the residents of Southeast Nebraska.

A graduate of Beatrice High School, Samantha earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Northwest Missouri State University in 2013. She went on to complete her mortuary science education at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, where she received an Advanced Standing Diploma in Mortuary Science. Following graduation, she served as an intern and later as a licensed funeral director at Merle Hay Funeral Home in Des Moines before returning home to Beatrice in May of 2016.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, Samantha remains actively involved in funeral service education. She currently serves on the Advisory Committee for the Mortuary Science Program at Des Moines Area Community College and previously served on the program’s Re-Accreditation Advisory Committee.

Samantha and her husband, Nick Thompson, are natives of Beatrice and Wymore and are raising their two children, Adeline and Wesson, in the same communities they proudly serve. Along with their dogs, Rudy and Sven, the family enjoys spending time outdoors hunting, raising upland birds, and giving back through community volunteerism.

Deeply committed to civic involvement, Samantha contributes her time and leadership to numerous local organizations, including:

• Board Member, Gage Area Growth Enterprise (NGage)
• Financial Advisory Council Member, Wymore/Blue Springs Area Fund
• Member and Past President, Southern Gage Kiwanis
• Huddle Leader for Southern Fellowship of Christian Athletes
• Member, Wymore Housing Authority Board
• Past Chair, Leadership Beatrice Advisory Committee
• Graduate, Leadership Beatrice Class 11
• Past Board Member, Young Professionals of Gage County (YPG)
• Chair and Co-Creator, McCandless Spooktacular (annual fundraiser and Trunk-or-Treat event in Wymore)
• Past Secretary/Treasurer, Blue River L.O.S.S. Advisory Council (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors)
• Member, “Catch the Glow” Planning Committee, Beatrice Community Hospital Foundation
• Co-Chair, YMCA Capital Campaign Communication Committee
• Member, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
• Member, Beatrice Rotary

Through her professional dedication and community involvement, Samantha is honored to support families not only in times of loss, but throughout every season of life.

Dick Hovendick was a licensed funeral director, embalmer, and pre-need salesman. He was married to Jackie (Griffiths) and they had four children, Rich, Steve and Kirk Hovendick and Laurie Olberding. Dick's civic involvements included:

• Former Member and Past President of the Beatrice Chamber of Commerce
• Former Member and past vestryman of Christ Church Episcopal
• Former Member and President of the Christ Church Foundation Board of Directors
• Former member (28 years) of the Beatrice Community Hospital Board of Directors
• Former Member of the Homestead Harmonizers
• Former Member of Beatrice Rotary Club
• Former Member of the Beatrice American Legion Club
• Former Member of the Beatrice Fraternal Order of Eagles
• Former Member of the Sesostris Temple of the Shrine
• Former Member and Past President of Blue Valley Shrine Club
• Former Member and First President of the Gage County Historical Society
• Former Member of the Southeast Nebraska Area Health Education Center (SEAHEC) Board of Directors
• Former Delegate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center
• Past president of the Beatrice Jaycees

Dick's professional memberships include:

• Former Member and Past President of the Nebraska Funeral Directors Association
• Former Member of the National Funeral Directors Association and past chairman of the Clergy Relations Committee

Jackie's civic involvements included:

• Former Member and Past President of PEO Chapter Z
• Former Member and Past Vestry Person of Christ Church Episcopal
• Past President of the Christ Church ECW
• Former Member and Treasurer of the Christ Church Altar Guild
• Past President of the Beatrice Community Hospital Guild
• Former Beatrice Community Hospital Gift Shop Volunteer
• Former Member and Past President of Fortnightly
• Past Member of Children's Guild
• Life Member of the PTA
• Meals on Wheels

Ansley Williams is a funeral apprentice serving families at Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel and Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore. A graduate of Eustis-Farnam High School, Ansley studied at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln before pursuing her mortuary education at Des Moines Area Community College, where she is currently enrolled and set to graduate in August.

Ansley has gained valuable experience serving families over the past three years, including internships at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg, Nebraska, and Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Lincoln, Nebraska. She remains committed to continuing her education and serving her community with care, respect, and professionalism.