Paul David Holmquist, 89

Paul David Holmquist was born at home on the farm in Kalispell on June 28, 1927. He was the seventh child out of eleven siblings.

He passed away at his home in Kalispell on Feb. 5, 2017.

Paul was proud of his full-blood Swedish ancestry, as his family immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1880s. He grew up in an era people now still don’t realize existed in the 1930s and 1940s — horse-drawn farming equipment and buggies with no indoor conveniences. Paul remembered the brilliance of the farm’s first 25-watt light bulb; he was 14 at the time. Seven years later came the luxury of indoor plumbing and toilets.

The most important part of Paul’s life was accepting “Jesus as his Lord and Savior” at age 18. Paul’s love of God defined the rest of his life, creating a man of great integrity.

Paul attended Bible school for two years before joining the Air Force. These travels brought him to New York where he met the love of his life, Ruth Gloss. They were married Oct. 18, 1952, and then returned to Kalispell.

Paul started his lifetime career of carpentry and home building and did all the stages of construction. Paul’s perfectionism made him a true craftsman. Because of his faith, Paul never cut corners to make a buck. He had no exact retirement date; he just took on smaller projects as he slowed down later in his 70s. Paul once again enjoyed being a small-time farmer.

Paul and Ruth had two children, Karen and Allen. Paul enjoyed helping with 4-H projects, fishing, camping, fishing, hunting, fishing, and oh yes, fishing. Number one was serving Jesus at the Assembly of God Church. Paul was there whenever the doors were open and answered every call for service.

Paul was the last of his siblings to die. Ruth preceded him in death in 2007.

He is survived by daughter, Karen (Ron) Meroney in Portland, Oregon; son, Allen in Kalispell; granddaughter, Tabitha (Jon) Borchardt in Seattle; granddaughter, April; great-granddaughter, Inka in Kalispell; and dozens of cousins, nephews, nieces, etc.

As Paul said at the end of letters and conversations ... “Jesus is coming soon. Keep looking up!”

A public viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 17, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home with service to immediately follow. A burial will follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.