Inez Elaine Holty

Inez Elaine (Burke) Holty, 94, of Mabel, Minnesota, passed from this life to eternal glory on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, due to complications from double pneumonia. Cherished aunt to 26 nieces and nephews, and near 80 great nieces and nephews, she was doubly related to Jim, Pam, Joyce, and Ron Holty and treated them as if they were her own kids. She will be very missed. Elaine was born on June 18, 1931, at home on the family farm, located in Mora, MN. At the age of 17 they moved to Claremont, MN where she graduated in 1949. The family then moved to Chatfield, MN, followed by Two Harbors, MN, and finally to Farmington, MN. It was here that she left her parents and married John Franklyn Holty on February 14, 1959, in Lakeville, MN, and they enjoyed 52 years of marriage before his passing. Besides holding the job of telephone operator, she worked as a secretary for Jostens in Owatonna, The Evangelical Free Church Bible Bookstore headquarters in St. Paul, and Mansfield Ind./Control Data/Northern Engraving in Spring Grove. She also helped her husband with rodeos, and a horse trailer business. She was a very capable hard worker and could sew, knit, crochet, reupholster, and knew how to use tools to remodel rooms. She showed great hospitality to any who crossed her front door. She taught herself to play the piano and did a bang-up job of it. She was the church pianist at Calvary Evangelical Free Church for almost 50 years and sang alto in many duets, trios, and quartets. She loved music and also served as the Sunday School superintendent, financial secretary and other duties relating to women’s ministry. Lover of crosswords and jigsaw puzzles, Elaine also spent daily time with the Lord Jesus. She read the Bible cover to cover many, many times. She trusted Him to be her provider and sustainer and was faithful to Him in prayer and testimony, always giving a reason to be thankful to Him. She is preceded in death by her husband, Frank, parents, Verdy and Geneva Burke, her brothers, Roger and Kenneth Burke, her sister, Verly Holty, and several other close loved ones. Survived by her sisters-in-law Wilma Burke and Peggy Holty, and brother-in-law Roger Martin, as well as the above-mentioned nieces and nephews. Services will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Calvary Evangelical Free Church, Spring Grove, Minnesota – visitation from 1-2 pm, funeral at 2 pm. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at Trinity Cemetery in Spring Grove. Roble Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Inez Elaine Holty

June 18, 1931 - December 23, 2025