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| Joyce L. Holmgren, Age 94 |
| Visitation Location: |
First Presbyterian Church, St. Cloud, MN |
| Visitation Date/Time: |
Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM |
| Funeral Time: |
Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 1:00 PM |
| Funeral Location: |
First Presbyterian Church, St. Cloud, Minnesota |
| Burial Location: |
Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, Minnesota |
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JOYCE L. HOLMGREN, 94
St. Cloud
November 22, 1918 ~ February 2, 2013
Joyce Lorraine Holmgren, age 94, St. Cloud, MN, peacefully slept away on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at the St. Cloud Hospital.
Funeral services will be Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 1:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church, St. Cloud, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Burial will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, MN. Funeral arrangements were made by Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN.
Joyce was born November 22, 1918, in her grandparents’ farmhouse, near Glenwood, MN to Fred and Elizabeth (Blair) Lachelt. Growing up, she lived in Manitoba, North Dakota, and Minnesota where she graduated from Glenwood High School. After attending Normal Training, she taught in a country school for one year. Joyce saved enough from her $480 annual salary to go to St. Cloud Teachers College. There she met the love of her life, Marvin Holmgren. Five months later, on October 25, 1940, they eloped to her uncle’s farmhouse near Browerville, with her mother in attendance. They had to keep their marriage secret because only single women could be hired as teachers. This policy ended with World War II, with Joyce teaching while Marvin served in the Navy. After World War II ended, Marvin used his GI bill to enroll in the University of Minnesota Graduate School where he completed his Master’s and Ph.D. The couple lived in University Village, also known as “Fertility Flats”. After completing graduate school, Marvin, Joyce, and their three small children moved to St. Cloud where Marvin had accepted a position at St. Cloud State Teachers College (SCSU). When all her children were in school, Joyce obtained her 4 year degree, and began teaching again: 2 years in Monticello, 10 in Sartell, and 14 in St. Cloud.
When Joyce and Marvin retired, they spent their winters in Arizona and summers at their new home in Waite Park. Joyce was a longtime member of the Presbyterian Church, where at various times she sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and served as a church officer. She belonged to Christian Women, Presbyterian Women’s Association, AAUW, and Delta Kappa Gamma. Since 1952, she was a devoted member of P.E.O. She volunteered at the Whitney Center and in the Arizona Public Schools. Joyce enjoyed traveling, having visited all 50 states, all of the bordering Canadian provinces, and most of Western Europe. She conquered the Caribbean at the age of 93. She was an avid reader, loved movies, going to shows at the Paramount Theater, and playing bridge for over 50 years with lifelong friends. One of her greatest loves was music, still playing the piano and organ at her last home, Benedict Village.
Survivors include her children, Charles (Carol Bogedain) Holmgren of Roseburg, OR; Susan Holmgren of Waterloo, IA; and Lindsay (John Anderson) Holmgren of Richmond, CA; brother, Phillip Lachelt of Manson, IA; granddaughter, Adrienne Vallance and great granddaughter, Charlotte, both of Glendale, CA.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and husband, Marvin on June 24, 2003.
Memorials should be given to the donor’s choice of church or charity. |
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