Selmer Ernest Holen, 88 of Goodridge, MN died peacefully on Sunday, March 13, 2016 at Sanford Hospital in Bemidji, MN.

Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Wesley Langaas officiating. Burial will follow at Reiner Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Friday, March 18, 2016 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN.

Selmer Ernest Holen was born at home on the family farm in the house where he lived his entire life, on December 17, 1927 in Reiner Township, Goodridge, MN, to Halvor and Gyro (Homme) Holen. He was baptized on April 8, 1928 and also confirmed in 1943 at the Rosendahl Lutheran Church.

He was confirmed at Rosendahl Lutheran Church and attended a rural school near the farm and graduated from the AC at Crookston, MN in the class of 1945.

On June 28, 1952 Selmer was united in marriage to Helen Viola Johnson in the Goodridge Parsonage by Rev. O.O. Bjorgan. They lived for a short time in Soudan, MN where Selmer worked in the underground mines. In 1959 Selmer and Helen returned to purchase the Holen family farm in Reiner Township, which became a Century Farm in 2006.

Throughout the years, farming was Selmer's passion. He also worked as a block layer, did maintenance at Land O Lakes Turkey Plant & Hatchery, worked at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN for 2 years and drove school bus for the Goodridge School District for 25 years. He was so proud of the children he took to school to get their education.

Selmer loved gardening and at one time had six rows of potatoes that were 90 feet long and enjoyed sharing with his neighbors! He liked deer hunting, feeding the birds, fishing, mowing the yard, driving his golf cart, doing carpentry work, was a jack of all trades, and enjoyed camping and being in the outdoors.

Selmer served as President of the Reiner Free Lutheran Church in rural Goodridge, MN and served as Reiner Cemetery Sexton. He was on the board at the ASCS Office in Thief River Falls for many years, Reiner Township Assessor for many years, Sons Of Norway, Eagle's Club, Grygla Lions Club, served on the boards for Setesdals Laget of America and the Pennington County Fair Board.

He was a faithful man of God and was always concerned for the lost. He loved his family with his whole heart and he loved farming.

Selmer is survived by his wife Helen; children, Linda (Peter) Bauer, Thief River Falls, MN, Richard (Mary) Holen, Goodridge, MN, and Leann (Don) Wikert, Grygla, MN; grandchildren, Heather Usiski, Erick (Catherine) Bauer, Kyle (Jess) Wikert, and Angie (Duane) Johnson, Jamie (Jeremiah) Wishard, Samuel Holen, Kelsi (Brett) Chervestad, Douglas Reierson; great-grandchildren, Mercedes, Mackenzie, Olivia, Easton, Sadie, Tyler and one more on the way; brother Andrew (Norma) Holen, Milaca, MN; sister-in-law, Colleen Holen; several nieces and nephews, and close family friend, Dale Clausen.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Harold (Luella) and Meyer; sister Inga (Ole) Sunsdahl; sister-in-law, Rosanne Holen.