Reidunn Holm

Reidunn Utne Holm, 94, of Brevard NC passed away peacefully in the late hours of January 28th at Tore’s Home. She was born on June 14, 1928, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was the daughter of Ragnvald Utne, an architect, and his wife, Thora Falk Utne. They were Norwegians who had immigrated to Argentina in the early 1900’s. She had an older brother Frithjof who predeceased her.

She grew up speaking both Norwegian and Spanish fluently and learned English, French and German as well. She attended an art institution in Buenos Aires and earned a degree in Fine Arts as a painter. She created beautiful works of art throughout her life.

In 1960 she married John William Holm, who had moved to Argentina with his job for General Electric and helped to raise his two sons John and Frank Holm. She had two children of her own, Astrid and Ragnvald Holm.

The family lived in Argentina until 1966, and then lived 4 years in Louisville Kentucky, and another 4 years in Severna Park, Maryland where they were joined by Reidunn’s mother Thora, after the death of her husband and son. Thora traveled with the family for many years all over the world. In 1974 the family moved to Singapore and stayed through 1983. Reidunn made many beautiful pen and ink drawings of the old architecture in Singapore. When John retired from GE in 1983, they moved to Brevard and built a home in Sequoyah Woods. They enjoyed many happy years at their mountain home. Reidunn remained a faithful caretaker to her mother who had become an invalid, until her death in 1992, just a few days after the birth of her second grandchild, Sasha.

Reidunn was an accomplished artist, enjoyed painting, watercolor, and pen & ink drawing. She roamed the woods making many lovely landscapes in watercolor and detailed drawings of leaves and plants. Every year since her days in Singapore she created a Christmas card that was looked forward to by all their many friends all over the world. She loved to garden and maintained a gorgeous collection of flowers around her home (when they weren’t being eaten by the deer!).

She attended Brevard First United Methodist Church and volunteered with SAFE, Sharing House and other charity organizations, as well as contributing financially to many other worthy causes. She went on several Mission trips where her fluency in Spanish was very beneficial. She was a talented seamstress and knitter and enjoyed creating small, knitted dolls to distribute to children in need through the charity organizations she supported.

After the sudden death of her husband John in 2012, her health slowly declined and she was cared for in her home by her daughter Astrid until 2019, when she broke her hip. At that point she moved into Tore’s Home and was well taken care of and well loved by the staff.

She is survived by her two stepsons, John A. Holm and Frank H. Holm, her two children, Astrid Loveland, her husband, Bruce, Ragnvald Holm, his wife, Monica, and grandchildren: Eniku Catron, Sasha Lieberman, Daniel Holm, his wife, Emily, Erica Holm, John W. Holm, and Frank O.H. Holm.

She was a wonderful mother and grandmother – lovingly called Bestemama by her grandchildren, as her mother was before. She was a quiet, sweet soul; unfailingly kind to everyone she met, and will be dearly missed.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 11:00 AM at 1st United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends during a reception following the service.