Scott Roger Holmer

Scott Roger Holmer, “A Life Lived on the Edge”

November 6th, 1939 - October 4th, 2025

Scott was born in NE Minneapolis into a strict covenant Lutheran family. During his childhood he attended Minnehaha Academy where he made lifelong friends and fellow mischief makers. He was a member of the Chisago Lake Waterski Club where his acrobatic performances with his sister Sandee was a story embellished year after year. He trekked across the midwest as a Kneissl ski rep in the 60’s, was a member of the National Ski Patrol at Trollhaugen, WI for 23 years, and started The Lift ski shops in Minneapolis in 1974. In 1988 Scott and Connie moved to Bend, Oregon to continue The Lift and raise their family above the business for 15 years. Over the years, the ski shop known for Friday apres ski wine and hot cider evolved into a niche ski racing business, Race Place. Scott and Connie worked tirelessly to grow the small mail order catalog into one of the largest suppliers of ski racing equipment in the nation. Scott was the eternal optimist and innovator proven by designing the first accurate ski base edge bevel guide in 1995 and expanding it to an entire line of ski tuning equipment known as The Beast. He would often tell people he went to college for seven years, but couldn’t decide what he wanted to be when he grew up, so he didn’t.

A highlight of Scott’s life was spending time on the St. Croix River. He moved to St. Mary’s Point in the early 70’s. After moving to Oregon, he continued to return to the river every summer, driving his family and myriad pets to camp on “the lot”. In 2016, he and Connie built their dream home on the river. At the age of 76, Scott was finally able to spend his summers sleeping and showering indoors. But port-a-potty and all, those 28 years of summer outdoor living were unparalleled. Scott was blessed to spend the last two months of his life on the river with Connie. He would not have wanted it any other way. He has now moved on to endless sunny ski days followed by wine on the sun deck and boat rides on the St. Croix. He was a great father and grandfather who loved watching his children ski race all over the world. He was an icon in the ski industry and will be missed by many.

He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Ruth Holmer and brother Jerry. He is survived by his spouse Connie King Holmer; children Camille MacCallum, Eric Holmer (Kiley Candee), Kelsey Holmer (Chris Schmokel); four grandsons, Tucker and Maxwell MacCallum, Kiger Holmer, and Quincy Schmokel; sisters Sandee Knudson and Diane Baxter.

The family of Scott Holmer welcomes friends and family to celebrate his life Friday, October 24th from 3:00pm-6:30pm with memories shared at 4:30pm at Rudy's Redeye Grill, 4940 Hwy 61 N, White Bear Lake, MN 55110.

An additional celebration will be held in November in Bend, OR, where he was part of the community for 37 years. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to the Alzheimer's Association. https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate, 800.272.3900