Alice Holmquist

Alice J. Holmquist passed away peacefully on August 6, 2011, with her family at her side. She joined the angels nine days after her 90th birthday. Alice was born on July 28, 1921 in Baker, MT, to Thomas Bernard and Mattie Hanratty. She grew up on the family homestead east of Baker with three brothers and one sister. Alice married Wendell Thomas Holmquist on June 1, 1947 at St. John#8217;s Catholic Church in Baker MT. They had seven children, Tom Holmquist of Ft Collins, CO; Billie Jean (Bill) Ranard of Bozeman; Jon (Lisa) Holmquist of Livingston; Hal Holmquist of Bozeman; Mary Jo (Scott) Haberman of Issaquah, WA; Dean Holmquist of Bozeman; and Wendy (Len) Elgen of Prescott, AZ. Alice had eleven grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren: Helen (Chris) Holmquist-Johnson; Donna Lee (Josh) Zugish, children Theresa and J.J.; Paul (Abbey) Holmquist; William Traynham, daughter Tessa; Amy Traynham; Dawn Holmquist, children Desiree, Sierra, Rhianna and Ryan; Stoney (Jennifer) Holmquist, children Jackson, Piper and Zoe; Dusty (Natasha) Holmquist, children James R. and Alice; Alec Haberman; Jay Haberman and Derek (Kelly) Ruff, children Rhett, David, Breauna and Lance. Alice was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Percy and Phil, her sister Catherine, and her husband Wendell. She has one surviving brother, Walt (Jean) Hanratty on the family ranch east of Baker. She is survived by all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Alice#8217;s first job was at the movie theater in Baker, where she met Wendell. She later worked for the Bank of Baker. Alice and Wendell lived in many small towns in Montana where Wendell worked for newspapers, including Miles City, Malta, Dillon, Lewistown, and Helena. After her marriage Alice became a busy wife and mother. After Wendell#8217;s death in 1961, Alice raised the seven children on her own. All her children attended Holy Rosary Schools. Alice was active in Holy Rosary Catholic Church and at Resurrection Parish throughout her life. Alice babysat when the children were small and also did bookkeeping for Paul Carter at Baxter Hotel Pharmacy. She later went to work for Montana State University food services. Alice was an active VFW Auxiliary member for 63 years, attending monthly meetings and doing various service projects. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She attended a weekly quilting group, making many beautiful quilts, all pieced and quilted by hand. Alice also did beautiful embroidery. She loved to bowl and carried a 167 average during her younger years. Alice attended untold numbers of swimming meets, baseball, football, and basketball games. One highlight of her life was a trip to Europe with her sister Catherine and her youngest child, Wendy, in 1978. Alice often traveled to Colorado and Washington to be close to her grandchildren. She also helped raise her local grandchildren, as well as numerous other children. She was well known for her #8220;naughty chair#8221;, long before time-outs were popular. Alice had more close friends than Carter had little liver pills (for the younger reader, this means a whole lot). She so enjoyed her weekly Saturday coffee ladies who were faithful to the end. This past December Alice moved to Hyalite County Care assisted living. We were blessed to have had such special and loving care for our mother. Mother was also graciously assisted her last several weeks by Rocky Mountain Hospice. Pallbearers are grandsons, William Traynham, Paul Holmquist, Stoney Holmquist, Derek Ruff, Alec and Jay Haberman. Honoray pallbearers are Dusty Holmquist, Scott Haberman, Bill Ranard, and Len Elgen. Visitation will be at Dahl Funeral Chapel at 5:30 PM Wednesday August 10th, followed by a Rosary and vigil at 7:00 PM. A funeral mass will be held at Resurrection Parish on Thursday at 10:00 A.M. Memorial contributions are suggested to Hyalite Country Care, 6040 S. 3rd, Bozeman, MT 59715, or to Resurrection Parish.