Remembering Those Who Left Us in 2015

Nine people with connections to Bovina passed away in 2015. Some were life long natives, some were born in Bovina but ended up in other parts of the world while some discovered the joys of Bovina later in life.

Thelma Reinertsen LaFever Andresen died on her 94^th birthday on January 20, the last surviving child of Andrew and Sophia Reinertsen. Born in Bovina, she first married Edwin LaFever. They would have five children while both working at Scintilla/Bendix in Sidney. After Ed’s passing in 1975, she married Edgar Andreson. They traveled to Norway to visit some of their Norwegian relatives. Thelma spent winters in her later years in Florida, her summers in Afton. As well as five children, Thelma had 14 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren – and she could member all their names and their birth dates.

Thelma at Christmas 1974, with her brother-in-law Ben LaFever and her husband, Edwin LaFever.

Bob Barnhart passed away in Bovina on February 10. Born in Bovina 87 years ago on the Barnhart family farm on Pink Street, he spent his life in Bovina. He married Lillian Gray in 1949. They celebrated their 65^th wedding anniversary last year. Bob was a farmer and later worked for the Town of Bovina. He was superintendent of highways for 12 years. Bob left behind six children, 21 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, as well as his three sisters.

Bob, second from right, with some of his sisters and cousins at a Barnhart reunion in 2008

Dr. Paul Lapinel, a longtime resident of Manhattan and Bovina, died on February 10 at the age of 90. Born in Cuba, he graduated the University of Havana Medical School and was a physician in the U.S. Army. He served American Military Veterans for many years as a staff Psychiatrist. He also provided Psychiatric evaluations to Cuban refugees. He was an Assistant Clinical Professor at Albert Einstein Medical School in Bronx, N.Y. as well as at New York University Medical School. He was Chief of inpatient psychiatric services at Lincoln Hospital in Bronx, N.Y. and also held Chief position at Bronx-Lebanon Medical Center. He also maintained a private practice in psychiatry New York City. He continued to practice medicine until the age of 80. He married Margarita deLourdes Fornes in 1951. He and Mrs. Lapinel would have seven children. With a busy medical practice and large family, he also found the time to manage a horse farm in Bovina that bred and trained Arabian horses. As well as his seven children, Dr. Lapinel was survived by 22 grandchildren and a great grandson, as well as two sisters.

Dr. Paul Lapinel (photo courtesy of Dean Lapinel)

Born in Bovina Center in 1916, Margaret Celia Coulter, known throughout her life as Celia, passed away on April 25 at the age of 99. Celia graduated from Delaware Academy, Delhi, as valedictorian and received a scholarship to attend Cornell University. After graduation, she came home to care for her parents until their deaths. Celia then went on to attend the State University of New York at Albany Library School. Upon graduation, she became a highly regarded librarian at the State University of New York at New Paltz until her retirement in 1985. Celia loved traveling with her sister, Ruth, and friends following her retirement. Always interested in knowledge, she requested that her body be donated to science at her death.

Celia (second from right) in the SUNY New Paltz yearbook from the 1950s.

Brothers Viggo “Joe” Skovsende and Niels G. "Mike" Skovsende passed away in 2015. Mike was born in Michigan in 1929 and Joe in Bovina in 1931, the sons of Hans and Nina Skovsende. The brothers grew up in Bovina and graduated from Andes Central School. Joe was a Korean War veteran.  He married his wife Elsie in 1957. They would farm on Route 28 in Andes and raise their five daughters. Joe enjoyed working outdoors, making his famous fence posts and hunting. Joe passed away on May 30. As well as his wife and daughters, Joe was survived by 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. His brother Mike also was a farmer. He and his wife, Barbara Boyd, owned and operated Skovsende Farm in North Franklin. As well as farming, Mike enjoyed bowling and square dancing. Mike passed away on December 18. He was survived by his wife, his son Garry, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mike and Joe also were survived by their sister Nora Cole.

Joe Skovsende (photo courtesy of Suze Skovsende)

Millard F. Russell, better known by many as “Stub,” lived his entire 91 years in Bovina, passing away on November 24. He lived all his life on Mount View Farm, the family farm on Russell Hill Road. A graduate of Andes Central School, he diligently tended the family farm while enjoying its beauty. Stub raised registered Holsteins and won the Progressive Breeders Registry Award. He was married to Claire (Rabeler) Russell, who predeceased him in 1994. He was survived by their two sons, one daughter, two grand-daughters, his brother, a cousin and many nieces and nephews.

Stub with his sister-in-law, Mathilde
"Tillie" (Menke) Rabeler
(Photo courtesy of Steve Rabeler)

Stub in his younger days
(Photo courtesy of Steve Rabeler)

Another lifelong Bovina resident, Vincent L. Trimbell, died on December 10. He was the son of Vincent A. and Olga Trimbell and a graduate of Andes Central school. Vince owned and operated the family farm on Cape Horn Road and was an avid outdoorsman. He was survived by his loving wife, Mary, three children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Vince and Mary with Ben and Becky Damgaard
(Photo courtesy of Ethel Hammond)

David T. Call was born in Philadelphia in 1946 and spent much of his life there and in New York city working as a stockbroker. Later in life, he discovered the joys of Bovina, buying a property there. He loved the mountain views, woods, ponds and pastures. While in Bovina, he was active member and past president of the Delhi Rotary Club. He passed away on December 18 after a gallant fight against cancer.

David Call with his wife and daughter Liz.