Ellsworth R. Holm

Ellsworth Roy Holm, age 93, of Alexandria, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Alomere Health.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at the Alexandria Covenant Church with Rev. Trinity Opp officiating. Full military honors accorded by the Minnesota Honor Guard and the Veterans Memorial Honor Guard. Interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery, Alexandria.

Visitation is 5-8 p.m., Tuesday, July 29th, at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Ellsworth Roy was born on February 16, 1932, the youngest of eight children, to John and Hulda (Nelson) Holm in Iron River, Michigan. He graduated from Iron River High School in 1950, and went on to attend Bethel College in St. Paul for two years. Due to his mother’s illness, Ellsworth left college early to return home and help care for her. Following her passing in August 1952, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He completed basic training at Camp Roberts in California and was then deployed to Korea, where he served in military intelligence and reconnaissance. After his honorable discharge in 1954, he returned to Minneapolis. Ellsworth was united in marriage to Anne Larson on June 18, 1955, at Central Evangelical Free Church in Minneapolis. Together they were blessed with three sons: Daniel, David, and Douglas. Ellsworth used his veteran’s benefits to enroll at Macalester College in St. Paul. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1959. He then spent five years working in the accounting department at International Harvester Company in St. Paul. In 1964, Ellsworth enrolled at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Business and Marketing Education. The family then moved to Alexandria, where Ellsworth began teaching Business and Marketing at Jefferson High School. He continued his education at the University of Minnesota, earning a Master of Arts in Teaching. Ellsworth founded the DECA program at Jefferson High School and dedicated over 30 years to teaching there, retiring in 1993. He remained an active and devoted member of the Alexandria community, volunteering with numerous organizations. He served on the Board of Directors for the Community Concert Association, held every officer position in the Golden K Kiwanis, served as secretary of the school employees' credit union for 25 years, and was a board member for the Runestone Area Retired Educators. He was a longtime member of Gideons International, serving as both president and chaplain. He was also involved in launching the Elder Network Program in Alexandria. Ellsworth was a faithful member of Cornerstone Baptist Church (formerly First Baptist) for over 50 years, where he served on numerous boards and committees, taught Sunday School for more than four decades, and led the senior adult ministry. He was currently a member of Alexandria Covenant Church. Ellsworth was an avid gardener, lovingly known as “Mr. Dahlia”, tending a 50-by-100-foot flower and vegetable garden that kept him busy and content. He loved baking and generously shared his produce, flowers, and baked goods with others. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and singing in the church choir. Overall, Ellsworth loved spending time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 70 years, Anne on July 7, 2025; and siblings, Mildred (Bill) Bedard, Doris (Don) Bach, Robert (Ruth) Holm, Clifford (Vi) Holm, Carol (Harold) Jewel, Celeste (Waldo) Powell, and George (Barbara) Holm.

Ellsworth is survived by his three sons, Daniel (Cynthia) of Plymouth, David (Lynette) and Douglas (Nancy) both of Alexandria; seven grandchildren, Carrie (Tyler), Jeremy (Kelsey), Sarah (Markus), Kendra, Brittany (Mike), Brendan, and Brianna; seven great-grandchildren, Kasen, Nyah, Aidan, Olivia, Elijah, Luke, and Graham; sisters-in-law, Karen Nyholm and Marion Larson both of the Twin Cities; along with many beloved nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Mike Tripp, Mark Watkins, Eric Hartmann, Mick Miller, Andrew Cavers, Brad Nyberg, Troy Putnam, Brandon Soine, Aaron Stern, Adam Arnquist, George Crist, Robb Buttweiler, Pete Bright, and Steve Schabel. Honorary pallbearers are his grandchildren, members of the Golden K Kiwanis, Gideons International-Alexandria Camp, Chuck Erickson and Lynette Berglund.