Visitation: Friday, March 18, 2011 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home.
Rosary: Will be recited at on Friday, March 18th at 6:30 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.
Vigil Service: 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 18th at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.
Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City.
Rite of Committal: Custer County Cemetery.
John Joseph Holkup, age 96, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2011 with loving family members by his side.
John was born on December 17, 1914 in Washburn, ND to John and Frances (Macek) Holkup, the second of five children. John graduated as salutatorian from Washburn High School. At age 17, after his fathers unexpected death, John became the primary support for his family. With his uncles help, John ran a corner grocery store and managed a family owned apartment building in Bismarck, ND where the family had moved the previous year.
At age 20, John began his 45 year career as an optician for Benson Optical where he worked with Lillian Kupper. On April 24, 1944, John and Lillian were married in Mandan, ND. Their first child was born in North Dakota. Three more children were born in Miles City after Johns 1947 transfer there to open and manage a branch of the Benson Optical Company. During the early stages of his career with Bensons, John studied and passed the exams to become a Master Optician and a Certified Audiologist. He retired in 1980. John and Lillian enjoyed traveling to Western Europe and in the United States. One of their first trips, sponsored by the Friendship Force, involved meeting and staying with families living in repressed East Berlin and Poland.
John and Lillian were active in Sacred Heart Parish where John was a member of the Knights of Columbus. John and Lillian were involved in various church related activities including Cursillo and Marriage Encounter, and serving as Lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and religious educators for high school students. John and Lillian also were involved in community affairs with RSVP, the Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, St. Vincent De Paul, and the Grief Support Group. In October, 2006 John and Lillian moved to Highgate Senior Living in Bozeman, MT to be closer to family.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Anne, Agnes, and Charlie. He is survived by his sister, Frances of Santa Clara, CA; his wife of almost 67 years, Lillian, and their four children, Janice of Seattle, WA, Patti of Missoula, MT, Paul of Buffalo, WY, and Gary (Zena Holliday) of Bozeman, MT; three grandchildren Joe (Nayoun) Nichols, Leah Nichols (Kevin Hall), and Jenna (Gerry) Nichols-Pagel; one great-grandson, Jason; and several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 18, 2011 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home. A Rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. followed by a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 18th at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Thomas F Peterson says
John was a cousin my mother Lucille Colette Holkup – Peterson. He and my mother wrote each other for as long as I can remember. When she was no longer able to write him or send a Christmas card to him, she had asked me to do so at times. She passed away on June 7th 2010 at 88yrs old.
I really do love the story that was told about John and I know it was their Uncle Jim, his corner store, his bakery and apartments that they both worked at for years.
God Bless and take care of those hard working soles! They both lived a good long life!