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

He was born in Lewistown, Montana, 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 January18, 1947, He married Mary Paine and together they had six children, Clinton, Steven, Clement, Sandra, Carl, and Susan. He divorced from Mary and later remarried to 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 Sandra of Kalispell, MT, Carl (Loretta) and Ernie of Pueblo, CO, and adopted family, Beth, Pat and Bonnie Reilly, and their sons: Sam, Hunter, Christian, and Hudson of Hulett, WY. Special Mention to Ernie’s friends Lee and Linda Aker of Hulett, WY.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Crook County Medical Services District in Sundance, WY, where Ernie resided with many of his new friends in long term care, whom he was very compassionate about, until he passed.

A viewing will be held one hour prior to the service. Service will be held at 3:00 PM Friday, April 17, 2026, at Greater Hulett Community Center. Burial will follow immediately after the service at Hulett Cemetery in Hulett, WY.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel of Sundance. Online condolences may be written at https://www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com/