THE BOLMGREN FAMILY

The Bolmgren family has deep roots in the Brookside neighborhood of St. Louis Park, and has contributed much to the civic life of the city.

H.J. BOLMGREN

H.J. Bolmgren was born in 1885/6 in Minneapolis and came to the Park in 1915. He and his wife Selma lived at 4088 Vernon Ave. [aka 4050, 4092] across 41st Street from Brookside School (at least from 1933), until 1954 when St. Luke’s bought the property to expand. The Bolmgrens then lived at 4140 Webster, behind Brookside School, where Mrs. Bolmgren resided until 1964.

Bolmgren served on the City Council as the second ward alderman from 1922-1931 and again from 1946 to his death in 1959. He was known as the Park’s financial watchdog. In 1928 he pushed through a municipal water system, despite widespread opposition. Three years later the water table dropped below the level of individual wells, thus vindicating his decision.

H.J. was the last president of the Brookside Improvement Association. He was also a member of Aldersgate Methodist Church, a member of the Park Volunteer Fire Department, Chamber of Commerce, the Masonic Lodge, and a director of Park Plaza State Bank.

He retired in 1957 after 39 years as a foreman at the Munsingwear Company. He died in his sleep at home on Webster Ave. on January 15, 1959 at the age of 73. His obituary can be found in the January 22, 1959 issue of the Dispatch.

H.J. and Selma’s children are: June Jenson, Frances McNellis, Eleanor Rekdahl, Lois Chermak, and Robert Bolmgren.

ROBERT BOLMGREN

Robert N. Bolmgren was born in 1923 in St. Louis Park. He married his wife Shirley in 1951, and they were one of the first families to live in Meadowbrook Manor. They lived in a fine home on Nevada for awhile but missed Brookside, so in 1956 they bought a house at 4070 Brunswick, where they lived until 1982. Robert was on the St. Louis Park Fire Department  for 35 years and was a member of the VFW. He died on October 6, 1994. Shirley continues to live in Minnetonka, but still attends Wooddale Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park.
 

Robert and Shirley had four children who all graduated from St. Louis Park High School: Suzanne (Thomas) in 1970, twins Gary Bolmgren and Gay (Armstrong) in 1973, and Nancy (Nies) in 1980.

Suzanne married her high school sweetheart David Thomas in 1973 and the two raised three children on the 2400 block of Cavell Avenue near the Minneapolis Golf Course. All three of their children graduated from St. Louis Park High School: Matthew in 1996, and twins Jennifer and Jason in 1999. Suzanne was a dedicated volunteer in the St. Louis Park schools while her children were growing up before accepting a position in the school district’s Human Resources Department in 1991.

Gary Bolmgren and wife Lynn raised a daughter Jenna and son Daniel in Richfield. Gay and Barry Armstrong raised two daughters, Kim and Molly, in Golden Valley. Nancy and Dave Nies have two daughters, Ele and Lydia, and live in Rogers.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.