Caroline Rosella Miovac was born on November 19, 1916 in Roseau County, MN, the daughter of John Michael and Tekla (Burnell) Miovac. She attended school thru the 8th grade and grew to adulthood in Roseau County. Following school she worked on a farm doing daily chores from milking to feeding animals and then clean up. It was at one of her jobs where she met her one and only Axel Hilding Holmgren. The couple dated for 1 ½ years and married on March 10, 1936 in Roseau. They continued to farm in Roseau County and while Axel worked away on construction in the summer and logged in the winter Rose cared for the farm.

While living in Roseau they raised 11 children. When their baby was five the family moved to Osakis, MN, where Rose worked for a landscape nursery for several years and also at the Walleye Inn Supper Club. In 1969 the family moved to Thief River Falls where Rose worked at Arctic Cat for eleven years until she was forced to take early retirement when Arctic closed. Roses next job was caring for the elderly in their homes, mostly in the Roseau area. She continued to do that until her health started failing in 1996, at the age of 80 years old. Rose continued to drive until she was 84. Rose enjoyed family and friend visiting anytime and the more people in the house the better she liked it.. She enjoyed picking blueberries and just having someone pick her up and take her for a long drive.

Rose is survived by two sons: Gary (Jennifer) Holmgren of St. Hilaire, MN and David Holmgren of Thief River Falls, MN; five daughters: Sharon Rowley of Sharon, ND, Sandy (Paul) Meyer of Thief River Falls, MN, Karen (Bob) Sprynczynatyk of Bismarck, ND, Deb (Robert) Martell of Thief River Falls, MN and Wanda (Bill) Hillyer of Thief River Falls, MN; 44 grandchildren: Debbie Rowley, Greg Rowley, Bobby Rowley, Randy Rowley, Tracy Rowley, Dawn Rowley, Amanda Rowley, Brian Moyer, Kim Panick, Patti Meyer, Tami Anderson, Casey Holmgren, Cory Grochowski, Gary R. Holmgren, Kyle Grochowski, Cody Holmgren, Larry Martell, Darin Martell, Brad Martell, Dean Martell, Nancy Hoffman, Jason Sprynczynatyk, Christopher Sprynczynatyk, John Sprynczynatyk, Lisa Poole, Dale Martell, Jamie Kraemer, Julie Harbott, Missy Groslie, J. R. Holmgren, Andy Holmgren, Bonnie Matos, Buddy Holmgren, Bruce Holmgren, Jeff Holmgren, Michelle Qualley, Alan Holmgren, Donna, Becky Sorteberg, Patty Vaughn, Steve Holmgren, Robert Holmgren, Valerie Flogel, Vicki Holmgren, Virginia Holmgren, and Veronica Cushing; Jeff Spiering, Richard Spiering and Ryan Haugen; 76 great grandchildren; five great great grandchildren; one brother, John (Shirley) Miovac of California; four sisters: Phyllis Ten Broek of Mobridge, SD, Marge Lofdahl of Duluth, MN, Lorraine Otto of Roseau, MN and Velma (Joe) Gates of Roseau, MN; and several nieces and nephews. Special Friend Adeline Olson of Thief River Falls, MN.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Axel; three sons: Wayne, Darrell and Gale; one daughter, Patsy Spiering; two sons-in law: Robert Rowley and Dean Spiering; her parents; two grandchildren: Mariah Holmgren and Mark Groslie; four brothers: Duane, Van, Maynard and an infant brother; and one sister, Irene Head. Caroline Rose Holmgren died on Sunday, June 23, 2002 at Northwest Medial Center in Thief River Falls, MN at the age of 85 years, 7 months, and 4 days. May her memory be blessed.