Clifford "Cliff" Holwegner, 82, Minot, formerly of Bismarck, died Friday, August 14, 2009, in his home after a courageous battle with cancer.

Cliff was born June 30, 1927, in Bismarck, ND to Jacob and Mabel (Tice) Holwegner. He was raised and educated in Bismarck.

He served during World War II in the Pacific Theatre as a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division of the Armed Services. Cliff married Pauline Kabylnick November 25, 1948 in Wilton, ND. They made their home in Minot for the next twenty years. He worked as a meat cutter at Bergman Super Value for four years. He then hired on as a fireman on the Great Northern Railroad and later became an engineer. He spent one year in Breckenridge, MN as a road foreman and then transferred to St. Paul, MN in management for the next ten years.

After one year in Glendive, MT he finished his last seven years with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad as a Superintendent of cars in Billings, MT, retiring in 1987.

Moving to Jamestown, ND he helped start the Red River Valley and Western Railroad out of Wahpeton, ND, retiring again in 1992. Moving to Bismarck, ND he became a consultant for Short Line Railroads, training engineers throughout the country. While in Bismarck, he belonged to the Church of Ascension, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and VFW. Moving to Minot in 2003, he joined Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, where he was previously a member before leaving Minot in 1968.

Cliff became a member of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees (BNSF) and the VFW of Minot. Cliff will be missed by all of his friends and relatives, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren who knew him affectionately as Grampa Ho Ho.

Surviving family includes: Loving wife of 60 years, Pauline, Minot; Children: Larry (Shirley) Holwegner, Kent, WA, Ken (Judy Rae) Holwegner, Fargo, ND, Dan (Jayne) Holwegner, Minot, ND, Paula (Ron) Soine, Woodbury, MN, Tod (Julie) Holwegner, Casper, WY and Kristine (Mark) Mitchke, Seattle, WA; 13 Grandchildren; 5 Great Grandchildren; 3 Step-Grandchildren; Brothers: Albert (Norma) Holwegner, Bismarck, ND and Laurence (Doris) Holwegner, Blackhawk, SD; Sisters: Ruth Lund, Bismarck, ND and Eleanor Winkler, Sylmar, CA; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Cliff was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Isabelle Ringuette and brother Lester Holwegner.

Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, August 20, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot.
Vigil Prayer Service: Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at 5:30 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND
Visitation: Tuesday, August 18, 2009, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: Preferred to Trinity Hospice, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church or to an organization of the donor's choice.