Margaret Rebecca Holsen

Margaret Rebecca Holsen, 98, of Moorhead, MN passed away on Monday, January 15, 2018, in Sanford on Broadway, Fargo, ND. Margaret was born on May 19, 1919 to William and Julia (Bakken) Abbott in Starkweather, ND.

Margaret graduated from Fargo Central High School. Margaret was united in marriage to Martin “Marty” Holsen on September 21, 1940 in Moorhead, MN. After their marriage, they moved to Minneapolis to pursue what would be a lifelong career as florists. After Pearl Harbor, Marty enlisted in the Army, moving them to Texas for his military training. He was deployed overseas for the next four and a half years. During that time, Margaret moved back to Fargo working for a local florist while Marty was overseas. Upon Marty’s return from the war, they worked together at a local floral shop.

Marty’s National Guard unit in Moorhead was activated and sent to Alabama to train troops for the Korean War. Margaret followed and stayed at home to take care of the kids in Alabama. After the war, they moved to Moorhead and started their own floral shop, “Flowers by Marty” in 1960 which they owned and operated for many years. After retiring the business, the couple worked at the local Benjamin Franklin stores doing floral work. They retired together in 1998 in Moorhead where they lived out their remaining years. Marty passed away on August 5, 2014.

Margaret is survived by her children, Steve Holsen, and Kathy (Allen) Duval; grandchildren, Eric (Kris) Holsen, Kari (Mike) Wendt, Trisha Anderson, Blaine Duval, Jennifer (Kevin) Covey, and Mary Holsen; great-grandchildren, Kelton, Clare, Ryan, Kayla, Taryn, Rylie, Josie, Andie, Mariah, and Hunter; sister, Wanda Olson; and many other loving relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Marty; parents, William and Julia; brother, Randolph Abbott; and sister, Lucille Jellison.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 12^th, at 11:00AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, MN with a visitation one hour prior to the service. A burial of ashes will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Moorhead following the service.