Roland Lewis Holwegner
“Roland Lewis Holwegner was born in Burlington, Colorado on June 15, 1919, the second of seven children, to Fred and Luella Holwegner. The family eventually relocated to the Brownstown area where he farmed and ranched with his family.
He attended Wapato High School until the age of 16. In an effort to help support the family, Rollie took a job on a fishing vessel headed for Alaska. He spent a year fishing in the Bering Sea. Roland often remarked that if there was one thing he learned, fishing wasn’t going to be his career. After returning home he signed up with Civil Aeronautics for an Arctic Expedition.
By January 1943, the Second World War was heating up and rather than be drafted, he enlisted with the US Army Air Corps. In his words, he would rather fly than walk. After his training he took combat duty in February of 1944. He and his crew flew six missions in a B24 Bomber of which he was the nose gunner. On his 6th mission his plane was attacked by 15 to 20 Falk Wolf fighter planes and was forced to crash land. He parachuted out over Occupied France. The following 6 months Roland spent hiding behind enemy lines until he was rescued by Canadian soldiers. Roland received two Purple Hearts, and two Bronze Stars, for his service. When asked about his service he would say “I wasn’t a hero I got to come home.”
Roland went on to work in a gold mine in Alaska before coming home to the Yakima Valley where met and married the love of his life, Betty Ostby on July 1, 1949. From this union two children were born, Bill and Cathy. Roland and his older brother Don and younger brother Jerry bought a sheep operation south of Toppenish. That was the beginning of the” Holwegner Sheep Company.”
In the early seventies, Roland, his younger brother Otis and close friend Bud Elmer homesteaded two sections of land in Northern British Columbia, Canada. Many years of hard work were spent to obtain clear title. Roland made numerous trips to this ranch which he deeply loved, each time bringing back stories of his adventures.
In July 2006, Roland’s only son Bill was tragically taken in a motorcycle accident, leaving a void that could not be filled.
In recent years, Roland and Betty retired and enjoyed life with friends and family at their home in West Valley, Yakima, Wa. Roland was known for his generosity, often giving money to children and people in need. He always wanted to make each and every one he knew feel important.
Roland has touched many lives and will be greatly missed by all who knew him…
He is survived by his wife Betty Holwegner, daughter Cathy Lemke (Scott), three grandchildren, sister Gaynelle Stump (Jerry), brother Otis Holwegner (Silvia), many nieces and nephews and friends and his foster son, Benny Martinez. He was preceded in death by his son Bill Holwegner, two brothers, Don Holwegner and Jerry Holwegner, two sisters, Donna Davidson and Evelyn Gallipo, and his parents.
A special thank you to all the love and support that friends and relatives have given to Roland’s family. Special thanks to Roland’s doctors, Dr. Craig Whittlsey and Dr. Dan Doornik.” The preceding obituary was provided by the Keith and Keith Funeral Home.
World War II Service
According to the Air Forces Escape and Evasion Society of which he was a member, Sgt. Holwegner, during WWII, served in the USAAF 490thBomb Group, 848th Bomb Squadron, stationed at Eye, England. His plane, a B-24, #42-94784, “Snafuperman”, was shot down 21 June 1944. It was first hit by flak, then by German fighters. He and most of the other members of the crew bailed out and landed near Melicourt, France where they were aided by Belgian refugees who hid them in the woods. That evening the Belgians returned with food and directed them toward Caen. He and three other members of the crew traveled by night and were aided by many French people on the way to Caen. On the third night they met Charles Letang, who put them in contact with a British soldier, John Valery, who gave them ID cards and hid them on various farms in the area of Verneusses. On 24 August Mr. Holwegner and the other crewmembers made contact with Canadian troops and were returned to Allied control.
The Keith and Keith Funeral Home lists memories of friends and family of Mr. Holwegner, including the following:
- “Betty, Cathy and family: Just wanted to send my prayers for you all. Roland helped me learn to ride horses. He always saddled the horse for me and taught me horsemanship when I was a little girl staying at the feedlot with my Van de Graaf Cousins. My dad, Lenard, and I would see him hunting on Mt. Clemans with Jimmy McDonald. We had fun sharing our hunting stories. He was always so kind to me. He will be missed. Love, Lori Van de Graaf Ennis.”
- “Betty, Cathy, & family, my sincere condolences, our thoughts are with you. I have some great memories of Rollie at the Feedlot and with our friends Jimmy McDonald & Willie Van de Graaf. I always enjoyed talking with Rollie about his ranch in Canada.” Jim Fernandez and family.
- “Betty, Cathy and family: Just wanted to send my prayers for you all. Roland helped me learn to ride horses. He always saddled the horse for me and taught me horsemanship when I was a little girl staying at the feedlot with my Van de Graaf Cousins. My dad, Lenard, and I would see him hunting on Mt. Clemans with Jimmy McDonald. We had fun sharing our hunting stories. He was always so kind to me. He will be missed. Love, Lori Van de Graaf Ennis.”
- “Dear Betty, Cathy, and Family: Although my family and I will be unable to attend services today, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Some of the many memories I have about my Uncle, my God Father and my friend: When I was very young Rollie bought me an Angus steer he raised, sold, and gave my parents the money. When my children joined 4-H, Rollie helped me buy them their first registered Angus heifer. His love of cattle and guidance inspired us to grow our cattle business including earning American Angus Embryo Dam of the Year. We were Beef superintendents for 13 years at the Yakima Fair and he and Betty came to see us every year. Every success we had in Cattle we owe to Rollie. Rollie and Betty’s home was always open to us and we were honored to take in his many stories he was the greatest story teller I ever knew. He will be greatly missed by our family and remembered by many. We will think of you Uncle Rollie every time we put on our Cowboy Hats or pull on our Cowboy Boots (some of which belonged to you). Love Jack, Cec, Jeff, and Rob Davidson.”