A Holm Away From Home County Celebrates Faithful Worker’s 80th Birthday

Bob Holm’s steely handshake feels as though it’s coming from a football player.

But Holm, with his wispy, gray hair and broad smile, is Kootenai County’s oldest employee.

He turned 80 on Monday.

Retirement was never an option, he said. Holm has been a records clerk for the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department since 1988.

“If you retire, that thing up here dies out,” he said, tapping a finger on his head.

The sheriff’s department celebrated his birthday with a surprise party on Tuesday. His wife of 54 years, Ethel, plus his daughter, granddaughter and greatgranddaughter attended.

Holm was born in 1915. A thick Norwegian accent belies the fact he started his life in New York. When he was young, his immigrant parents moved the family back to Norway.

In 1958, he moved to Canada. Ten years later, he came to Spokane and then on to Coeur d’Alene.

He began working with the sheriff’s department as a volunteer, and was eventually hired part time.

“Why not work, I am healthy, I’ve always been healthy,” he said.

Holm arrives for work by 5 or 6 a.m.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s snowing or not, he’s here at 5 a.m. to get going with his business,” said Sheriff Pierce Clegg.

Holm files mug shots and police reports, puts pictures together for lineups and organizes fingerprints.

Holm said he enjoys his job, except for one thing.

“I hate to do the juveniles, that’s the terrible part,” he said, shaking his head. “The crime they do, that I think is terrible.”