Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271300
Title: Eugene O. Holen
Date: 5/23/1932-8/14/2024
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 5/23/1932
Summary: Eugene O. Holen, 92, of Watford City, ND, passed away peacefully August 14, 2024, at the Good Shepherd Home in Watford City. His funeral was held August 20, 2024, at Wilmington Lutheran Church in Arnegard, ND. Burial was in Wilmington Lutheran Cemetery. Eugene Olaf Holen was born on May 23, 1932, to Lawrence and Anne Holen, in Arnegard. Eugene spent his youth in Arnegard, with a brief time in Camas, WA, and Whitefish, MT. The family returned to Arnegard and Eugene graduated high school in 1950. To begin his college career, Eugene attended Minot Teachers' College but enlisted into the Army and served from September 1953 to June 1955. He then finished his bachelor's degree in education in Minot on May 23, 1956, which coincidentally was his and his niece Brenda's birthday! After teaching for a year in Donnybrook, ND, and a year in Watford City. Eugene obtained a master's degree from the University of North Dakota. At this point in his life, he felt a calling to the ministry and spent some time at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He ultimately decided he was more suited to teaching. Eugene moved to Billings, MT, where he spent the remainder of his teaching career. He had a passion for education and enjoyed teaching history and accounting to the many students who filled his classroom throughout the years. Eugene took an early retirement from his teaching career to come home and help care for his mother, Anne. Eugene appreciated sports all through his life, participating in baseball and basketball in his youth. He was an avid supporter of local high school basketball programs and enjoyed a good breakdown of all the action after the games. Music was also an important aspect of his life. He participated in many choirs throughout his life and was a very talented singer. Eugene's faith was an integral part of his life, and he spent many afternoons leading chapel at Good Shepherd Home in Watford City, ND. He was a valued member of Wilmington Lutheran Church and served on the church council. A person could set their watch by Eugene's schedule. Later in his life, his daily routine included morning and afternoon coffee with the local crowd, several visits out to the farm (all of which included a dixie cup of ice cream and sharing table food with the dog and cats), at least one trip to Watford City and the occasional jaunt to Williston. He was always eager to share his latest jokes and comics with those around him. Eugene was very devoted to his family and community. He was an avid letter writer and kept in close contact with many cousins and friends. He always showed great interest in activities, sports, and hobbies of multiple generations of nieces and nephews, as well as attending various community events. Eugene is survived by his sister, Ruth (Kenneth) Vick, Loveland, CO. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, Wanda (Daryl) Holmen, of Fargo, ND, Brenda Bruins, of Williston, ND, Alan (Sheri) Bruins, of Arnegard, Lyle Bruins, of Arnegard, JoAnne (Roger) Olson, of Boulder City, NV, Karen Saan, of Loveland, CO, Paul Vick, of Gering, NE, Kathy Vick, of Henderson, NV and numerous great-nieces and nephews and their children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Anne Holen; sister, Genevieve Bruins; brother-in-law, John Bruins; and nephew, James Bruins.
Red ID: FND_I_78790 Image ID: 514554 Image Notes: FND001 271300

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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