Laurence Lee Holdeman, 92

Laurence Lee Holdeman, 92, passed away Monday, May 14, 2009, at his home near Bonners Ferry.

Funeral services were held Monday at Woodland Mennonite Church in Bonners Ferry with interment following at Mountain View Mennonite Cemetery.

Laurence was born Oct.. 7, 1916, in Harrison, Mich., to Monroe and Emma Kuepfer Holdeman. 

Dad’s grew up on a farm in Harrison, where he learned work with horses.  He told many exciting stories about driving a team. He learned that with trial and error, and determination he could do almost anything he wanted to do.

As a young man, Laurence traveled with a harvest crew in Kansas and North Dakota. We recall many stories he told of his travels. Laurence had a keen sense of adventure and it was enhanced by his travels. His love of the road less traveled carried on throughout his life.

Laurence was baptized at age 18 into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite April 24, 1935, in Harrison by Minister Hiram Mininger. He loved attending church services and many times shared his heart with the congregation.

Laurence spent hours searching the scriptures and wrote articles on Biblical subjects as he was inspired. He felt his own weakness and leaned heavily on God’s grace.

Laurence married Beth Williams on March 16, 1947. They enjoyed 62 good years together.

Laurence cherished his wife, setting a good example for his sons and grandsons. Having a family of 10 children was a real challenge, and memories of our growing up years still give us enjoyment.

Dad and mom’s first years were spent in Harrison where he worked in various occupations. They moved to Ithaca, Mich., where Laurence operated a dairy farm.

They then moved to Ft. Vermilion, Alberta, Canada, where they lived for 1 1/2 years. They moved to Bonners Ferry in 1971 and felt they were at home.

Laurence loved the mountains and enjoyed the opportunity to have cattle and a place to put down roots.  He set up a cider press and enjoyed getting to know the many people from the community.

Dad and mom planted a large orchard and as always, he had his bees. In his later years, Laurence spent hours weeding and hoeing in the garden and caring for his strawberry patch.

Dad didn’t ask much from life, but felt he needed to give to others. His lack of concern for his own physical comfort and his joy in the simple things are examples we as his children and grandchildren can learn from.

Dad was greatly loved and will be missed by all of us.

Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife Beth and children Joy Friesen and her husband, John, of Ft. Vermilion; Faith Isaac and her husband, Leonard, of Kleefeld, Manitoba, Canada; Grace Dirks and her husband, Bill, John and his wife, Elizabeth, Daniel and his wife, Gloria, David and his wife, LeAnn, Rachel and Priscilla, all of Bonners Ferry; Rebecca Condon and her husband, John, of Portland, Ore.; and Nathan and his wife, Lana, of Barron, Wis.

Also surviving are 30 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; brothers Neil and his wife, Rosalie, of Starbuck, Minn., and Ben and his wife, Lois, of Lime Springs, Iowa; sister-in-law Hazel from Buhl, Idaho; brothers-in-law Dale and his wife, Henrietta Williams, of Ashley, Mich., Robert Williams of Dumas, Ark., Hobart and his wife, Louise Williams of Sheridan, Mich.; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, two sisters and one brother.