Thief River Falls - Wayne Holmgren, 61, died Thursday, August 7, 1997 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Reverend Tim Bauer officiating. Deb Holmgren was the organist, and Donna Lisburg was the soloist. Casketbearers were Alan Holmgren, Robert Holmgren, Duane Anderson, Elliot Baker, Dwight Otto and Gary Braeger. Burial was at Greenwood Cemetery. The Green Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Wayne Holmgren was born June 21, 1936 at Salol to Hilding and Rose (Miovac) Holmgren. He was baptized and confirmed at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Osakis. He attended school at Salol until the eighth grade and then went to California where he worked a short while for General Motors.
He was united in marriage to Beverly Dahlgren on November 1, 1968. For most of his life, Wayne was a building mover and moved several houses in Northwestern Minnesota, Chicago, IL and Northwestern Montana. He worked for a short time as a mechanic for Falls Diesel. He drove truck for North Star and Willie Warner Construction of Columbia Falls, MT.
He loved to travel and enjoyed hunting, fishing, stock car races and spending time with family and friends.
Wayne is survived by his wife Beverly of Thief River Falls; five sons, Wayne Jr. (Anita) of St. Hilaire, Buddie and his special friend, Ruth, of Anchorage, AK, Andy (Shannon) of Missoula, MT, Bruce of Moose Lake and Jeff (Kristy) of Thief River Falls; one daughter, Michelle (Doyle) Qualley of Maple Bay; his mother, Rose Holmgren of St. Hilaire; one step-daughter, Bonnie (Jose) Matos of Chicago, IL; 17 grandchildren; two brothers, Gary (Jennifer) Holmgren of St. Hilaire and David and his special friend, Adeline Olson, of Thief River Falls; five sisters, Sharon Rowley of Sherman, SD, Sandy (Paul) Myers of Warren, Karen (Bob) Sprynczynatyk of Bismark, ND, Debbie (Bob) Martell of St. Hilaire and Wanda Groslie of Thief River Falls; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Hilding; two brothers, Gale and Darrell; one sister, Patsy Spiering; and two brothers-in-law, Robert Rowley and Dean Spiering.