The Daily News

Growing up on a farm near Grand Rapids, N.D., Don Holen was interested in farming and agriculture from an early age. He was born in 1932 and showed an early inclination for community involvement and leadership.

Holen went to a small, rural school there until it was closed his sophomore year. After, he attended LaMoure High School, 10 miles away, and graduated in 1950.

"It was quite a change going from a small school where there was maybe three or four in a class," said Holen. "And there weren't many books in that school."

Advertisement

He attended North Dakota State University, then the North Dakota Agricultural College, intermittently between 1950 and 1957, when he was granted his degree in agricultural education. He had intended to use his degree to enter into an agricultural teaching position at a high school before being offered a job as an assistant county extension agent for Steele and Kidder counties. He was there for seven months before being transferred to Wahpeton to the Richland County offices in 1958.

"I've enjoyed it here," said Holen, simply.

In Wahpeton, Holen met his wife, Dorie. She was a dental hygienist and instructor at North Dakota State College of Science, and served as vice president of the North Dakota Dental Hygienists' association. She was divorced prior to meeting Don and had three children from her previous marriage.

"I didn't adopt them but I took them on, in raising them," said Holen. "We didn't have any children, so I don't have any children myself."

Holen is now a grandfather of eight.

He worked for Richland County until March 1960, when he went to work for First National Bank in Wahpeton. He started as an agricultural representative.

As he had grown up on a farm and was student of agriculture, "It was a pretty appropriate thing," said Holen. "Banks were hiring people like me, for relating to farm people... I didn't make any loans for several years, but I took evaluations on cattle and machinery. That's what they used for collateral for the bank. I determined what size loans and worked on cash flows and that type of thing."

Holen had a good relationship with the farmers, an asset he brought with him and demonstrated daily during his time at the bank.

"I got myself involved with a lot of agriculture like 4-H when I was with the extension, and worked with farm organizations," said Holen. "So I was always tied in with the farm people, people that are basically agricultural."

His service and rapport with the community did not go unnoticed. In 1975 Holen received the Businessman of the Year award, which is presented to the "local business figure who, in the opinion of area farmers, has worked effectively for the farmer without monetary gain."

After leaving First National Bank, Holen was employed by Northwest Bank of Wahpeton, which later became Norwest Bank North Dakota, Wahpeton. The company purchased Wells Fargo in 1998, and is now known by that name.

In 1981, Holen became the second president of the Wahpeton Elks Lodge. He has been involved with the lodge since it was first formed in 1958.

Holen has received many awards for his contributions to the community's welfare and prosperity. In November 1989, Holen received the Extra Mile Award. Two years later, in February 1991, he received the first annual Mark Werre Community Service Award for "display(ing) conspicuous service to the community." Shortly after, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Wahpeton Chamber of Commerce.

Holen retired from banking in 1993, after 34 years. That year, he received the North Dakota Community Leadership Award, presented by the Greater North Dakota Association - North Dakota State Chamber of Commerce. The award recognized "individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their communities, making North Dakota a better place to live, work and be in business."

After, he was appointed manager of the Wahpeton Department of Motor Vehicles, a position he maintained until only a few months ago. In 1999, Holen ran for county commissioner, "And I've been there since," he said.

At the end of this year, Holen concludes his lifetime of public service with his fourth and final term.

"I'm not going to run this year for the simple reason that I came down with cancer," said Holen. "I'm going to run out this term, though. I'll be done when I can't handle it anymore, or when the term runs out this year."

Holen's contributions to Wahpeton are unquantifiable, and his accomplishments and services are innumerable.

In his life, he has served on the board of directors for Benedictine Health System (BHS) Long Term Care Inc. in Wahpeton, which sponsored and operated Wahpeton Health Care Center, and was director of the Richland-Wilkin United Way. He was campaign chairman of the Bagg Bonanza Farm Restoration Project, and was active with the Community Development Corporation, the Mooreton Development Club, the NDSCS Foundation Agricultural Committee and the Job Service Employer Committee.

He has served as a member of the Wahpeton Kiwanis since 1959, and was even its Lt. Governor in 1995. And for decades he has served with the local Dollars For Scholars. He is acknowledged by his peers and highly regarded by his friends.

"Don Holen is a widely respected public official who's been part of the community for his entire professional career," said Wayne Beyer, director of Wahpeton Parks and Recreation, seen in the below photo awarding Holen the Extra Mile Award in 1989.

Harris Bailey, Richland County auditor, said, "Don's been an integral part of community ever since I've been in town, where he's always the one that's willing to do the work, to show up for the meetings, and just do what is the best for the community," adding, "He's an excellent person."

Comments