Holmen served nearly 22 years (1963-1985) as a pastor to both Trailer Estates Covenant Church in Bradenton and nearby TriBar Estates Covenant Church in Sarasota. The two trailer park areas where he ministered totaled about 3,000 inhabitants. Holmen previously served for eight years as a church developer in the Southeast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, primarily out of Lake Wales. He helped start congregations in Bradenton and Sarasota, as well as churches in Lake Worth, Pompano Beach and Venice.

Before he arrived in Florida, Holmen was pastor at Faith Covenant Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and First Covenant Church in Fresno, California.

Born December 9, 1918, the 84-year-old Holmen grew up in Upsala, Minnesota, and became a member of the Covenant church there. He earned his undergraduate degree at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo following a pre-seminary year at North Park Junior College in Chicago. Following college, Holmen returned to North Park and earned a Theology certificate. He was ordained as a Covenant pastor in 1946.

Along with his ministry credentials, Holmen was active on conference and denominational boards. He served as chair of the Southeast Conference and the California (now Pacific Southwest) Conference Ministerium. He was also a member of the Covenant Stewardship Commission (secretary) and the Covenant Pension Board.