63952_Della B._Holmen
NORTHWOOD | Della B. Holmen, 86, of Northwood, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at the Bethany Lutheran Church, 600 Fifth St., Kensett, with Pastor Tom Martin officiating. There will be a gathering of family and friends one hour prior to the church service. Per Della’s wishes, her body was cremated. Inurnment will take place at a later date in the Kensett Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa, 232 Second St. S.E., Mason City, IA 50401. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com
Della Holmen was born in Kensett, in the house where she grew up, to Carl and Cora (Tenold) Arendts on Nov. 25, 1927. After graduating from Kensett High School in 1945, Della attended Luther College that fall and there met her husband to be, John Holmen, in December when all the GI’s were coming home after WWII.
Della and John married Aug. 11, 1946, and moved into the Army barracks at Luther that were built for returning servicemen who had families and were able to go to college on the GI Bill.
Della finished her second year at Luther and then became a full-time mom. Two children were born in Decorah (Susan and John Jr.). The family moved to Lakota in 1949 where John began his teaching and coaching career. A third child (Eric) was born while they lived there for four years. The family moved to Britt to a bigger school and better pay, which was needed with a growing family. While in Britt two more children were born (Leif and Martha).
In 1959 the family moved to Pittsburg, Calif., when John accepted a job as a junior high school counselor sight unseen. They adapted to their new surroundings and soon another child (Rogna) was added to the family.
While in Pittsburg Della was a member of the Pittsburg Women~s Club, bowled in a bowling league with many of her close friends, sang in the Grace Lutheran Church choir where she was a member and was a teacher~s aide for Pittsburg Unified School District. Throughout her life Della enjoyed knitting, sewing, cross-stitch and time with her family.
John passed away in the summer of 1987. Della remained in California until 1996 when she returned to Kensett for a class reunion. At the reunion she became reacquainted with Lowell “Tub” Jaspers, who she had dated while in high school, so it was kismet. Della moved back to Northwood where she and Lowell had a wonderful life together.
Della was preceded in death by her parents: Carl and Cora Arendts, two brothers: Stanton Carl and Vern Tenold Arendts, husband: John Holmen, children: Susan Church and Leif Holmen; and also many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Della is survived by four children: John (Ginny) Holmen, Willits, Calif; Eric (Melodie) Holmen, San Diego, Calif; Martha (Mark) Taylor, Mason City; Rogna (Brian) Haley, Antioch, Calif. Grandchildren: Michael, Cristin, Shawn, Lisa, Matthew, Kirsten, Thor, Kirk, Travis, Laura, Molly and Jake; many great-grandchildren; and special niece, Andra Zamacona. She is also survived by the love of her later life, Tub, his six children, their spouses and children.
Arrangements: Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City, 641-423-0924, www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.