Lowell Holmgren
March 11, 1935 – December 17, 2024
It is with deep sorrow that we announce Lowell Holmgren’s peaceful passing on December 17, 2024, in Saskatoon at Royal University Hospital.
Lowell was born in Estevan SK on March 11, 1935, the youngest son of Peter B and Ella Holmgren. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ruth (nee Carlson); daughter Vicki (Brian Rushton); grandchildren Danita (Jeremy Janzen), Keri (Cory Taylor), Nathan (Ashley) Rushton, Jeffrey Lowell (Jocelyn) Rushton; great grandchildren Isaiah, Jacob, Rowan, Elizabeth, Wolfgang, Bentley Lowell, Stevie, Alexa, and Zelene; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Back in the day it seemed that Lowell knew, or knew the family connections of, everyone in Estevan, having lived there his whole life. From his schooling at Valley View and ECI to joining the family business at Holmgren Motors (later Senchuk Ford) he was a firefighter, a founding member of Estevan Raceway, a mechanic at Luscar Coal, a foreman and then Loss Control Officer, fuel truck operator for Co-op, an EMO coordinator, and safety instructor for Southeast Community College.
Lowell loved all machines and could fix them all. He did stop fixing vehicles when computers were introduced, but loved learning about the new technology. Danita asked her Grandpa to fix a balloon but that wasn’t something he could do.
He started driving early and built a motorized scooter. He would drive to see his sister and family in Goodwater. Lowell spoke of driving tractor and disker to clear a quarter of land when he was 9 yrs old (which took all summer), and drove the grain truck at 11. In Estevan, he started driving the fire truck, a 1928 LaFrance, at 14, and was a volunteer fireman for 51 years, retiring in 2000.
The LaFrance had no windshield, cab or doors but whether it was -50 or +30 Lowell never missed a fire, and stood outside to make sure the pumps didn’t freeze up. He remarked lately that he should have put heated seats like today’s vehicles, cause that would have been a great improvement. There were many family members on the fire department. During the years he worked alongside his father, brother, brother-in-laws, son-in-law, many nephews and many close friends. His jacket, boots and helmet “Fuzzy” were the first in line. He loved to tease and joke with the guys when they returned from a fire, and would thank them for helping out.
Lowell lived in the family home on Third St. until the Police station expanded their property, and moved to Sussex Arms until 2020. After 7 months in a retirement home in Saskatoon, he and Ruth moved to a suite in Vicki and Brian’s home. They enjoyed getting to visit with family, and especially his namesake 4 yr old grandson, Bentley, Lowell the 3rd.
Lowell loved stock car racing, boating, snowmobiling, biking, scooters, traveling and camping with Ruth. They spent many winter holidays in Desert Hot Springs with Ruby and Don.
Lowell has always loved trains, and when Vicki’s twin boys were born, he started shopping for an “N” guage train set. It grew from a coffee table size to the basement of the house! Later when the boys went shopping with Grandpa for train cars or locomotives, Grandma would ask the boys if Grandpa had paid with dollars or a plastic card. It seemed like the budget was higher for the train set.
While Lowell worked in Bienfait mine, there was a fire that destroyed the shuttle locomotive. So his job was to shop for a new engine across the country and in the US. But his joy was when he received his operator license to drive the CN train in the mine yard as it was filled with coal for Ontario. He was pretty proud of that license. He trained a team of miners in fire rescue and emergency response for the Mine Rescue competitions in Saskatoon and they did very well.
He had a license to operate almost anything and enjoyed driving the team bus for the high school when he was younger. He drove semi and enjoyed going with his son-in-law on the weekends from Manitoba to Alberta. Lowell loved to be around engines and was very proud of the fact that he had drove a fuel truck, potato truck, tow truck, fire truck, buses, school bus, semi truck, stock car, motorhome, ski boat, scooter, forklift, snowmobile, tractor and combine, and likely some we forgot.
Lowell has requested no funeral, and stated in his will that he has to be driven to his resting place in a FORD (of course). The family will have a family graveside service in spring. Because there isn’t a service, the family would love it if you would share memories of Lowell through the Funeral home site www.dalmenyfuneralhome.ca. We cherish these memories as we grieve.
In lieu of flowers you could honour Lowell with a gift to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or War Amps.
Arrangements entrusted to Dalmeny Funeral Home 306-254-2022.
9 Comments
Lowell & Ruth lived across the street on 3rd street from us for years had many a visit with them. Where their house used to be is now part of the police station So sorry to hear of his passing, my condolences to his family.
When I first married I was driving home in Estevan. All of a sudden I felt someone hit my rear bumper. I looked through my mirror and here was Lowell, my father-in-law pushing me with the two truck. It was a red light and he pushed me right into the intersection forcing me to drive through the red light. He was laughing the whole time.
Just want to say how much Dave enjoyed working with Lowell at The Ridge. We both never tired of the stories that Lowell could spin!
Ruth, Vicki and family,
I am so sorry to hear about Lowell passing. I was just thinking about him just the other day. As you know Lowell and I worked together for years at the college. He was always my go to, he was my confidant, and what I consider a very dear friend. He had a way to always make me laugh. Lowell taught me so much during our years of being co-workers and was always ready to listen and give me advice. He was one of a kind and will be dearly missed. Rest in Peace my friend
Truth or fiction, Lowell was a great, fire service, storyteller. One such story; all the stories started out the same, It was 40 below or it must have been 40 below.
we got a call from Lampman Sk. that they needed our help, so we started out in a raging storm, driving an open cabbed 1928 Lafrance fire truck. We plowed through many a snow drift and eventually we got to Lampman. We drove right past the fire because there was so much snow around my feet I couldn’t push the clutch in. We had to drive around the block and clear the snow away. Man I was cold that night, said Lowell !!
Lowell was a great mentor to me and many others throughout his career, that spanned over 50 years with the Estevan Fire Service! He will be remembered and missed by many, rest easy Sir.
Ruth, Vicky and family.
My condolences to you all on the passing of Lowell. I worked with him at the College and he was one of my favourites! His sense of humor was the best. I loved chatting with him and listening to his stories. I often got advice from him and there are still times I use that advice. I know his abscence will leave a huge hole in not only your family but the many lives he touched. I am so glad we crossed paths in this life. Give Ruth a big hug for me. Rest in peace Lowell.
So many wonderful memories of visiting with Aunt Ruth and Uncle Lowell. When our boys were young they were amazed how Lowell could grab them by the back of their top and have them up in the air – in a flash – feet off the ground and they could end up right side up or upside down! LOL
Rest in peace Uncle Lowell. You will be missed by not only your Precious Loving Family but by so many others.
Ruth and family, my sincere condolences on the passing of Lowell. I haven’t forgotten that he was the kind neighbor who taught me how to ride a bicycle the old way. On a sloping driveway into the back alley, Both of us laughing as I hit multiple objects and both survived as well as learned. It’s funny, I still ride a bicycle almost every day.
I will fondly remember his hearty laugh, his giant hands and his great tolerance for my never ending questions, hence, the nickname he pinned on me that I remember to this day. May he rest in peace as we were truly blessed to know him.
Ruth, Vicky and family:
My sincere condolences to you and your family on the passing of Lowell. Lowell worked with my dad (Alex Yakimenko) for many years. We got to know Lowell and Ruth very well. Whenever we met it was always a great visit with them. He was just like a big teddy bear and always had stories to tell. I think of Ruth and Lowell everything I drive by the police station. Lowell was one of a kind and will be deeply missed by many.
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