
By Sue Sylvester
In Part II of the Holmberg story, the Alfred and Annabelle (Robarge) Holmberg story was highlighted. This episode will cover the Walter and Veronica (Lacina) Holmberg story. The following were sources I used for this story, Pat and David Holmberg, Christy (Olson) Harshman, obituaries, birth, death, census records, plat maps, and property abstracts.
Walter and Veronica (Lacina) Holmberg
Walter and Veronica met each other like a lot of people did during this time by going to local barn dances. After Veronica graduated from Annandale High School in 1933, she worked as a housekeeper for a family in Annandale. Walter was working at the family farm in Chatham. Their son David said that Walter was known for his arm wrestling capabilities. He could beat anyone. I’m sure Veronica must have been attracted to such a handsome, strong young man.
Walter James Holmberg and Veronica Cecilia Lacina were married June 23, 1936 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Kimball, Minnesota. Veronica was born May 15, 1915 in Marysville Township, Wright County, Minnesota. Her parents were Edward and Emma (Lambert) Lacina. After their marriage, they moved directly into the original Holmberg farmstead. His father, Alfred Holmberg had died in 1935 and his mother Annabelle still owned the farm and was also living there. In the farm property abstract on July 12, 1944 it was noted that Annabelle Holmberg Hubbard’s land was transferred to Walter and Veronica Holmberg. On a 1948 plat map Walter and Veronica Holmberg had 80 acres of land. By 1956 the plat map showed Walter and Veronica owned 80 acres plus 39 1/2 additional acres.
In this marriage 5 children were born.
1. Marion Elaine was born July 16, 1941 in St. Cloud. She married Donald W. Clark, March 5, 1965 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. They had two children, James and Bryan Clark. She died September 15, 2008 at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. She was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery, Duluth, Minnesota.
2. Rita Katherine was born November 22, 1943 and died March 6, 1944. She was buried in St. Charles Catholic Cemetery.
3. David James was born August 27, 1945 in St. Cloud. He married Patricia Ann Stumpf on May 11, 1968 in Wright County, Minnesota. David’s family line will continue ownership of the original family farm.
4. Cheryl Bernadette was born April 8, 1947 in Wright County. She married Anton R. Rotar in Chicago, Illinois. They had a son, Milan Rotar. Cheryl died October 19, 2016 in Cicero, Illinois.
5. Jeanne Michele was born April 1, 1957 in St. Cloud. She died November 14, 2015 at Buffalo Hospital. Buffalo, Minnesota. She was buried in St. Charles Catholic Cemetery.
Walter farmed the original farmstead his whole life. I asked his son David to describe the kind of farm his dad operated. David said they had horses in the beginning to plow, till, plant and harvest the crops. His dad milked 25 to 30 cows and brought the milk to Maple Lake Creamery. They also raised hogs. Twice a year they would hire Melvin or Russell Stuhr to truck the hogs down to the slaughterhouse in St. Paul. Walter was paid the going rate of a price per pound when he sold the hogs. They raised about 40 to 50 hogs a year. They also raised chickens for the family to have eggs and to eat. Veronica would plant a vegetable garden. She would can fruit, vegetables, and put up preserves for the family. She sewed many of the family’s clothes plus made quilts. She also did all the baking for the family. Can you imagine doing all this work without electricity?