Marius Holje

With bittersweet feelings we say “goodbye” for now to our sweet husband, father, grandfather, great and great-great grandfather, and friend.
Marius passed away after fighting an admirable battle against the terrible beast of cancer. He was the first born child of Mathias and Jenny Holje, born on the family farm in Toten, Norway, on 19 October 1920. Seven siblings were to follow. His formative years were spent on the farm where he learned to work hard just to survive. This hard work trait stayed with him throughout his life until just before his passing. His beautiful yard can attest to this. He could literally push a twig into the ground and command it to grow.
He married Ragnhild Iversen, his first love, on May 1, 1943, in Oslo, Norway, later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they raised three wonderful sons, Scott (Marilyn), Erling (Helen), and Espen (Linda). They had 12 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren.
Trained as a meat cutter in his teens, he stayed with this profession his entire life culminating with a 30 year career at Wasatch Meats.
In 1955, the LDS missionaries found their “golden family.” After a year and half of effort, their work paid off and the family was baptized. In 1958, in the true spirit of modern day pioneers, Ragnhild and Marius sold most of their possessions, said good bye to all relatives and immigrated to America. This was the humble start to what is today a family of 70 souls.
Ragnhild passed away in 2001. After 5 years of loneliness, Marius met and fell in love with Margaret Spencer visiting SLC from Birmingham, England. They were married in 2006, he baptized her, and they were sealed a year later in the Salt Lake Temple. Her five children and large family reside in England, Northern Ireland, and Greece. She was a true godsend for him and they have enjoyed many years of happiness.
Many thanks to Margaret who has loved and taken such wonderful care of Marius over the last several years. How can we thank you enough? We love you. A heartfelt thanks also to Margaret’s daughter Jacqueline whose timely visit at this time lightened our burden greatly.
The family wishes to thank the angels working at Millcreek Hospice Home Health for their loving care and assistance in this difficult trial.
Funeral services will be held in the Winder 5th Ward, 1361 Ea 4000 So, Salt Lake City, UT, Saturday, July 8th, at 11:00 am, with a public viewing at 9:30. A viewing will also be held at the Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 So Highland Drive, Friday evening 6:00 to 8:00 pm. To share a memory, please visit www.memorialutah.com
Service Information
Viewing July 7, 2017 at 6:00-8:00 PM
Memorial Holladay Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 South Highland Drive, Holladay, UT 84117





Viewing July 8, 2017 at 9:30-10:30 AM
Winder 5th Ward, 1361 East 4000 South, Salt Lake City, Utah





Funeral Service
July 8, 2017 at 11:00 AM
Winder 5th Ward, 1361 East 4000 South, Salt Lake City, Utah