- Date Of Birth: December 12, 1947
- Date Of Death: September 10, 2006
- State: Minnesota
Michael Holmberg-Smith of Warroad passed away on Sunday morning at his home in Warroad. He was 58 years old.
Michael Holmberg-Smith, the son of Frances (England) and Clyde Smith was born on December 12, 1947 in Wichita Falls, TX. He was raised in Baytown, TX and attended school there, graduating from Robert E. Lee High School. He attended Texas Lutheran College at Seguin, TX where he achieved a B.A. Degree. Then Michael attended Harvard University where he achieved a Masters in Theology in 1971. In 1974 he was certified for Lutheran ministry at Luther Seminary of St. Paul, receiving his Masters of Divinity, and was ordained on July 14, 1974. He later attended Trinity Theological Seminary in 1987 in Indiana and received his Doctor of Theology.
Michael served many communities as Pastor. He interned for two years at the parish at Leeds, ND. His first parish was in Bisbee, ND. He then became a Chaplain in the U.S. Army, serving in California. Following his Chaplaincy he served at Zion in Towner; then First at Rugby; then Wolford-Mylo-Ox Creek parish, and Trinity at Valley City, all in North Dakota. He served at Zion Lutheran Church in Warroad since 1993 and was currently serving part-time.
Michael Smith and Karen Holmberg were united in marriage on October 8, 1988, in Rolette, ND. They enjoyed eighteen wonderful years of marriage. Michael was known as the “Supreme Pun-tiff.” He could come up with a pun for everything, and he prided himself on that, often starting impromptu pun contests with anyone around him. He found it to be a great challenge to come up with new puns and jokes. He was extremely intelligent and enjoyed to read books about science, history, theology, and many other topics. He was the best papa in the world, and the most amazing husband! Michael was never able to comprehend how much he was loved, and he will be missed every day.
Michael is survived by his wife Karen; children, Rebecca Smith of Minneapolis, MN; Matthew (fiancAC. Irma Garza) Smith of Dallas, TX; Elissa Holmberg-Smith of Warroad; brother, Damon Smith (Terri) of Richfield, MN; mother and father-in-law Shirley and Hart Holmberg of Green Valley, Arizona; sisters-in-law Katrina (Craig) Hamer, Hart (Liz) Holmberg, and Deb (Tom) Rydeen, and many nieces and nephews and friends. Michael was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Brett Smith.
Soli Deo Gloria…”To God Alone Be The Glory”
