Lowell R. Hollen, age 82, of Brooten, MN, died unexpectedly on Sunday, October 9, 2022, at Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood. A public visitation celebrating Lowell's life will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, October 18th at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Brooten. A private family memorial service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, October 19th, at the funeral home in Brooten. Inurnment in Fort Snelling National Cemetery will take place at a later date. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Brooten.
Lowell Rueben Hollen, son of Reuben and Laura (Gunderson) Hollen, was born March 6, 1940, in Sunburg, Minnesota. He grew up on a farm near Sunburg along with his eight siblings. Lowell attended country school in Sunburg and high school in nearby Kerkhoven, where he graduated with the class of 1959. On February 10, 1960, he entered the United States Army, where he served in California and Hawaii until his honorable discharge on April 2, 1962.
Later that same year, on November 3, 1962, in Bloomington, Minnesota, Lowell was united in marriage to Mary Thorson of Brooten. The couple made their home in Minneapolis for several years before moving to Bloomington. This marriage was blessed with two sons, Tim and Tom. After Lowell returned from his military service, he worked for Ford for seven years before starting his own wholesale business, “Hollen Candy and Tobacco”. Lowell and Mary continued to live in Bloomington until their retirement in 2005. At that time, seeking to return to the area where they both were raised, they moved to Belgrade, where they resided until 2020 when they moved to their current home in Brooten. For many of the years that they resided in Bloomington, Lowell and Mary owned a cabin on Norway Lake and later, Mary’s parents’ farm, both of which kept them connected to friends and family in the Brooten area.
While living in Bloomington, Lowell was a member of the Bloomington American Legion and VFW as well as the Eagles. After moving to Belgrade, he joined the New London American Legion.
As a child, Lowell learned the Norwegian language at home and throughout his life he enjoyed getting together to visit with friends and family who also spoke the language. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and going for walks. When they were younger, he and Mary loved dancing. Lowell’s favorite thing was spending time with Mary, their sons, and grandchildren.
Lowell died unexpectedly on Sunday, October 9, 2022, at Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood. He will be greatly missed.
Lowell is survived by Mary, his wife of almost 60 years; two sons, Timothy Hollen of Richfield, and Thomas Hollen of Guam; four grandchildren, Staci Hollen, Jesse Hollen, Meghan Milner and Norah Milner; one sister, Ethel (Gene) Mellgren; two brothers, Gordon Hollen and Kermit (Francis) Hollen; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Brenda Hollen; five siblings, Rosella Camp, Arlene Skindelien, Audrey Larson, Harold Hollen and Morine Hollen.
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