In the fall of '66, he matriculated at Dartmouth College. In '69-70 he served as an Army Ranger in Viet Nam, receiving a pair of bronze stars for valor in combat. After discharge, he returned to Dartmouth and obtained his BA degree in '72 with distinction as a history major, summa cum laude for his senior year.

Then, it was back to Minnesota and law school. Holmen received a JD degree f

In the fall of '66, he matriculated at Dartmouth College. In '69-70 he served as an Army Ranger in Viet Nam, receiving a pair of bronze stars for valor in combat. After discharge, he returned to Dartmouth and obtained his BA degree in '72 with distinction as a history major, summa cum laude for his senior year.

Then, it was back to Minnesota and law school. Holmen received a JD degree from the University of Minnesota in '75, and entered the private practice of law in St. Cloud, Minnesota as a civil trial attorney for the next twenty four years, retiring in '99 to pursue a business opportunity in Caribbean tourism (which boomed before going bust). In the early 90's, he spent a couple of years, part-time, as a graduate student with the Benedictines of St John's School of Theology in nearby Collegeville, Minnesota. It was then that Holmen first considered a novel about Paul, and the idea festered until he finally put pen to paper a few years ago.

Obie has been married to Lynn for nearly forty years, and they have three adult children and one recent grandchild. Lynn and Obie are lifelong Lutherans with involvement on the progressive side of ELCA political skirmishes.

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