Albert O. Holmgren
Albert Holmgren Last Rites Held
Funeral services for Albert O. Holmgren, Sioux County pioneer, who died April 3 at Scottsbluff, were held April 5 at the Dugan Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff, and burial was in Fairview Cemetery. As part of the service, a grandson, Joe Schaefer, read the famed "Cowboy's Prayer." Pallbearers were Mr. Holmgren's grandsons - Robert and Joe Schaefer, Chuck Holmgren, Dennis and Terry Publow, Kemp Modlin.
Mr. Holmgren died in a Scottsbluff hospital after a lingering illness at the age of 84.
He was born February 5, 1887, at Woodstock, Ill. He came to Sioux County in 1906 and worked for Ashbrook Brothers until going into ranching for himself. He came to Sioux County when much of it was still under drift fences and open range. He always loved the prairies and the ranching business. He homesteaded near Mitchell, Nebr., in 1908 and later bought the ranch where he lived until retiring in 1965.
He always took an active part in community affairs, serving on the local school board and the election board for many years.
He married Mary Roland Dec. 17, 1921, at Harrison. The seven children born are Mrs. George (Alberta) Richmond, Hayden Lake, Ida.; Mrs. Charles (Arline) Schaeffer, and Mrs. Alvin (Jane) Publow, both of Harrison; Mrs. Franklin (Mary Anne) Modlin, Sidney, Neb.; Mrs. Kon (Becky ) Smith, Mission S. D.; Alan of Crawford, Neb.; and James, at home.
Survivors include his widow, all seven children, twenty-three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. One brother and one sister preceded him in death.
Relatives here for the funeral were Mrs. George Richmond, Mr. and Mrs. Kon Smith and daughters, Robert Schaefer, Lincoln, Neb., and Dennis Publow, Laramie, Wyo.