Interview with Marvin Holst

Marvin Holst Photo Collection

October 9, 2015

Marvin Holst stopped in at the Oran Hardware and ask if anyone would be in interested in Oran school photos. I received a call from Joan Wenger, hardware employee, and she provided me with Marvin’s contact information. Later that same night, I visited Marvin and his wife, Connie in their Dunkerton home.

Marvin’s mother, Bessie Gilson, was an Oran student in the 1927 - 1932 era. Bessie’s parents were Ross & Agnes Gilson. Bessie took piano lessons from 1926 to 1932 and graduated in 1933. She married Thorval Eaner, aka T. E. Holst. T. E. was born on a ship sailing from Denmark to America in 1912.

October 10, 2018

I met with Marvin & Connie Holst, Marvin’s sister, Joy Gates (from Sidney, Ohio) and brother, Lee Holst (from Chancellor, South Dakota) at the Oran Community Hall. Marvin’s siblings wanted to see the school photos that Marvin had given me. The photos had belonged to his mother, Bessie Gilson Holst. Bessie’s brother, Howard, also attended Oran school. We were unable to locate Howard in the Oran High School class photos that were displayed at the Oran Community building. Bessie Gilson’s parents were John Ross Gilson and Agnes Mae Gilson. John was small person at 4’ 10”. Marvin was interested in where his grandparents lived in the Oran area. Family history indicates they may have rented a Robinson house. We determined that the location may have been between Oran and Fairbank.

Students & Staff that are identified in Marvin Holst Photo Collection

Anita Lehee

Anna Suhr

Annetta Chase  

August Voss

Bessie Gilson

Bill Dilly

Burton Youngblut

Clarence Brickman

Clarence Clark  

Clarence Rommel

Earl Cosselman?

Edith Fratzke  

Edmund Knief

Edna Taylor

Edna Westendorf

Edwin Leehey

Ella Taylor

Elmer Erickson

Enid Richard

Ervin Kovar

Ethel Williams  

Eulalia Busse

Evelyn Cosselman

Evertte Shatzer