FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]
By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]
Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Gus Schumacher, the Anchorage Olympic cross-country skier, a [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s rural schools are on track to access faster interne [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska, [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]
Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m. [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The 2024 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got under [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Beverly Ruth (Swanson) Holmgren
Beverly Ruth (Swanson) Holmgren died at Sitka Community Hospital March 4, 2013, at the age of 80.
Bev was born May 22, 1932, to E. Gilbert and Ruth (Erickson) Swanson of Moline, Ill.
She earned her nursing degree from Mounds Midway School of Nursing in St. Paul, Minn., in 1954 and continued working at Midway Hospital in St. Paul until meeting her lifelong love, Melvin Holmgren, in 1955. The two were married in June of 1956, and soon began a family.
Mel and Bev lived in Denver, Colo., and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before moving to Anchorage in 1964, right after the big earthquake.
From there, they moved to Fairbanks where Mel worked at the University of Alaska Geophysical Institute. After the Fairbanks Flood of 1967 they built their hillside house on Wolverine Lane.
Bev stayed home with their seven children, and was active at Bethel Baptist Church, in various Bible studies with neighbors and friends, and for several years as an election precinct worker.
She especially enjoyed children and loved telling them her favorite Bible stories.
Bev’s faith in Jesus Christ influenced every aspect of her life and home. People often commented that Bev’s kitchen, the center of her home, was the warmest and friendliest kitchen they had ever visited. She befriended people from all circumstances and walks of life, and many found refuge in Mel and Bev’s home during difficult times of their lives.
She passionately supported Young Life of Sitka as a member of the prayer support team. She believed in the power of prayer, she said, not because she was faithful to pray, but because God was faithful to listen.
The Holmgrens moved to Sitka in 1977 where Mel became a partner in Sitka Electronics Lab, a marine electronics sales and service business catering to the fisherman of Southeast Alaska.
Bev became a receptionist at Dr. Edward Spencer’s office, and worked for him until his retirement. Together, Mel and Bev, along with several other families, started Trinity Baptist Church, now known as Grace Harbor.
After her job with Dr. Spencer ended, Bev spent many hours volunteering at the Pioneers Home, and Brave Heart, where she did housekeeping, errands and visiting the elderly in Sitka. Her nursing background and compassionate nature made her a natural for this job. At the Pioneers Home, she helped run the gift shop and visited many friends who were residents there.
Bev is survived by her husband, Melvin, and their seven children and families: Melody, Allan and Andrew and Melissa Gabler of La Grande, Ore.; Jonathan, Jill, Adam and Erika Holmgren and Tupper Becker, Daniel Holmgren, and Peter, Lynn, Tucker and Brandol Holmgren, all of Fairbanks; Eric, Liz, Katie and Ben Holmgren of Sitka; Valerie, Mike and Megan Reninger of Olympia, Wash.; and Anneli and David Anderson of Portland, Ore.
She looked forward to being reunited with grandson Traven Holmgren, who died in 2001.
She is also survived by her brothers, Ralph, Tim and Jim Swanson and a sister, Sharon Van de Voorde who live in the Midwest; and 9 nieces and nephews.
A memorial service celebrating Bev’s life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 6, at Grace Harbor.
Those who wish to contribute to a book of memories being made in her honor, are asked to e-mail stories and photos to Anneli Anderson, (
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
). Cards or other communications may be sent to Mel Holmgren, 236 Observatory St., Sitka, AK 99835. (747-8353).
A memorial gift in honor of Beverly for Sitka Young Life may be sent to Sitka Young Life, PO Box 2046, Sitka, AK 99835, or to Mel Holmgren.
Bev’s ashes will be scattered on Cross Mountain near Sitka, and buried at Sitka Memorial Park, where a grave marker will be located.
Beverly Holmgren, an outstanding wife, mother, sister, mother-in-law and grandmother, will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....