Marjorie (Margie) Patricia Holmquist, age 96, passed away at Christian Community Home in Osceola, Wisconsin, on Jan. 12, 2026.
On St. Patrick’s Day 1929, Marjorie Patricia was born to Minnie (Forslund) and Robert Noreen. The petite, blonde, blue-eyed girl joined sister, Arlene and brother, Myron. Brothers Elwood, Roger, and Elroy would later arrive and join the family at the Lindstrom, Minnesota, farm. It was more than a three-mile walk to the one-room school. Sometimes the neighbor would compassionately time his milk delivery into town, stop the horses, and in Swedish call out, “Get on the wagon kids!”
For fun, Margie and her brothers would traipse through deep snow, carrying their ice skates to reach North Center Lake. Sitting on an old log, they’d safely tuck their boots away, put on skates, and find a skateable bumpy path over to the far end of the lake with its shoveled rink. There were joyful skaters, a warming house, and even music from a loudspeaker. As dusk began settling, they would skate back to their frozen boots, climb the snow-covered hill, and arrive home just in time for supper.
After eighth grade, Margie found various jobs doing childcare, cleaning, and working at Gladys Herberg’s bailing out all the wood rental rowboats and readying them for the next day. Marjorie was always a competent, hard worker, having employment into adulthood.
Spending a few weeks with her sister, Arlene, in Chicago, Illinois, Margie’s skating skills transferred easily to the glitzy city roller rinks. Even when over sixty years old, Margie had no trouble stepping into cross-country skis and effortlessly keeping up.
Returning to Chisago County, Minnesota, Margie worked various jobs, including childcare, cooking, and household management. She also worked in housekeeping at various offices in the area. She cleaned for Brandtjen and Kluge printing company in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, for over 25 years, and at Springs Inn in Taylors Falls, Minnesota, for over 10 years.
In 1965 she married LaVerne (Logger) Holmquist of Shafer, Minnesota. Together they worked, raised their children, occasionally went dancing, and traveled, visiting Paris, London, Canada, Washington D.C., Montana, Connecticut, and many other places. For 36 years they were together, until his passing in 1991. Margie then moved from the country Shafer home and settled in Taylors Falls, where she was active with church, friends, community, and a growing family. After age 96, she became a resident at the Osceola Assisted Living Facility.
Preceding her in death is her husband, LaVerne “Logger” Holmquist; her parents, Minnie and Robert; sister, Arlene; brothers, Roger and Myron; stepdaughter, Katherine Delaney; and infant daughter, Robin.
Mourning her passing are daughters, Melanie (Don) Hoag and Paula Holmquist; stepdaughters, Jennifer Tahtinen and Patricia (Allen) Spangberg; brothers, Elwood (Cecily) and Elroy (Ellen); along with several grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, other extended family, and many friends.
All were privileged to have had Margie in their midst…a truly good woman who, no doubt, has been summoned into the promised, beauty-filled, divine paradise.
Funeral service for Marjorie will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at First Baptist Church, 661 West Street, Taylors Falls, Minnesota. Visitation one hour prior. Light refreshments to follow the service. Family burial will take place in the spring at Franconia Cemetery in Franconia, Minnesota.
Arrangements with Grandstrand Funeral Home of Osceola. Condolences may be expressed online at grandstrandfh.com.
