Ernest Holmquist, 97

Ernest "Ernie" James Holmquist, 97, of Hulett, Wyoming, went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 10, 2026.

He was born in Lewistown to Harold and Anna Holmquist. He grew up on the West side of Kalispell alongside his siblings, Harold "Sonny," Mildred, Ellen, William, Barbara, and John. Ernie attended schools in Kalispell through his freshman year. 

On Jan. 18, 1947, he married Mary Paine and together they had six children, Clinton, Steven, Clement, Sandra, Carl and Susan. He divorced from Mary and later married Diane Wamsley and together they had two children, Eileen and Ernest "Ernie" Jr. They later divorced. 

Ernie was a great outdoorsman. He liked to fish, hunt, camp and explore country roads. He was in the timber industry and worked in logging and sawmill. He was a "jack of all trades" and could "fix" anything. He learned to play the harmonica and accordion. 

After retirement, he moved to Hulett in the mid-nineties. He worked in a sawmill as a security guard and then officially retired. He purchased a mobile home in a trailer park where he loved to be. 

Ernie had eight children, 18 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, his children, Clement, Eileen, Clint, and Susan, and his great-great-granddaughter, Mariella. 

He is survived by his children, Steven and Sandi Gipe of Kalispell, Carl (Loretta) and Ernie of Pueblo, Colorado, and adopted family, Beth, Pat and Bonnie Reilly, and their sons, Sam, Hunter, Christian and Hudson of Hulett. Special Mention to Ernie's friends Lee and Linda Aker of Hulett. 

His final resting place in Hulett, Wyoming.