Obituary of Myrna nee Danhoff Holden

Holden, Myrna neé Danhoff age 90, passed away on January 6, 2015 at North Memorial Residential Hospice. Preceded in death by husband LeRoy Duane Holden. Survived by children, John (Isabelle) Holden of Beijing, China; Jean (Chuck) Ronnei of St Paul, MN; William (Brenda) Holden of St Augusta, MN; grandchildren, John Ronnei, Shelby (Jeff) Grue, Jessica Holden, Camille Holden, Adrienna (Dan) Korsman, Julia Holden; great- grandchildren, Benjamin LeRoy Grue and Ryann Marie Korsman; sister, Elaine (Patrick) Curry of Willmar, MN; sister-in-law, Marge Danhoff; brother-in-law, James Holden; brother-in-law, Robert Holden; and her partner of ten years, Harold Marcotte of Plymouth, MN. Born March 8, 1924 in St James, Minnesota, Myrna was the second of four children of Herman and Alma Danhoff. She spent her childhood on the family farm, worked in Chicago after high school, and returned home to help care for her mother, who had suffered a stroke in 1947. She met her future husband Roy Holden in 1949; they were married in 1951. Myrna was a valued partner with Roy in his career, most of which was spent in the Hopkins School District. Myrna and Roy loved to travel; after his sudden death in 1990 she continued exploring the world as a tourist and with Global Volunteers in Jamaica, Costa Rica and China. Among the many places she visited on five continents, Myrna was able to see the two that fascinated her most in her 4th grade geography class: Machu Picchu and the Taj Mahal. Myrna loved the Minnesota Orchestra, the Guthrie, the Arboretum, playing bridge, reading, and crossword puzzles, but, most of all she loved her family, for whom she was an inspiration and the source of much love, wisdom, and wit. She wanted this obituary to quote the adage "In the concert of life, no one has a program." Those who knew Myrna would say that that no words could convey the spirit and positive influence of this remarkable woman. There will be a celebration of Myrna Holden's life for family and friends in the summer. Memorial donations may be made to the Nature Conservancy of Minnesota.