Gretchen Kleinman Holt

Gretchen Holt died Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Born May 9, 1942, she lived for more than 80 wonderful years but recently suffered from a series of health setbacks. She nevertheless lived longer than her parents, Robert (Bob) and Margaret (Margie) Kleinman, and died peacefully.

Gretchen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was the oldest of five siblings. She raised two children, Terrance (Tad) and Tracy Hendrickson from her first marriage. She also had a stepdaughter, Kelley Holt Harmon, and three grandchildren (who she adored), Emily Harmon, Margaret (Maggie) Hendrickson-Kohn, and Dashiell (Dash) Hendrickson. She also very much appreciated her daughter-in-law, Kathy Hendrickson. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, R. Michael (Mike) Holt.

She grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and had many life-long friends from the Twin Cities, especially from high school at Our Lady of Peace (OLP) but also through the rich life she led. She attended Barat college, north of Chicago, and later graduated in 1980 as an Art History major from St. Catherine University in St. Paul.

In 1983 she married Mike Holt. They lived in Bloomington, MN, Manhattan, NY, Boston, MA (and Naples, FL for the last 30 years). They also shared a family home in Red Lodge, Montana. They traveled extensively and enjoyed 40 trips on cruise ships.

Gretchen had a talent for art and design and her Christmas trees decorated with gold, crystal and white lights were legend to friends and family as well as those who passed by the front windows of her homes during the holidays. She also was a superb decorator and created a series of beautiful and welcoming households. She loved jewelry and collected various forms of elephants. In past years she enjoyed golf with friends and skiing with family, especially in Red Lodge. She cherished time with friends and was Chairperson more than once on the social committee at Quail Creek Village and was active as a resident at LongShore Lake in Naples.

The family plans to celebrate her life in 2023 with memorials in Naples and the Twin Cities.