Elizabeth Johanna Holmes, 92, of Duluth, died, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, in Essentia Health St. Marys Hospital with her family by her side. She was born on Sept. 4, 1919, in Virginia, Minn., to Edward J. Larsen (1877-1959) and Emily (Eggen) Larsen (1880-1962).

Elizabeth graduated from the Virginia schools and went on to graduate from Northwestern University in music. She taught string instruments for years in the Austin, Minn., school system, and taught strings and band in the neighboring area. She moved to Duluth in 1972 and taught string instruments in the Duluth Public Schools until her retirement in 1985.

Elizabeth played violin in the Austin Symphony, the Rochester Symphony, and the Duluth Symphony orchestras. She also conducted the Duluth Community Orchestra and her school Orchestras.

Elizabeth loved her cabin on Lake Vermilion and musical get togethers there with friends and family. She loved family times at the cabin, with swimming, sun tanning, berry picking, feeding birds, humming birds and chipmunks. Elizabeth enjoyed canoeing and once took a trip into the Boundary Waters. She loved her generations of family pet dogs over the years. Some of her hobbies included reading history, sailing books, James Herriot books and watching British comedies. Family was very important to her; she loved spending time at home in Duluth with family during Thanksgiving and Christmas. She loved Norwegian Christmas baking, lefse and lutefisk. Elizabeth swam for years with friends at the Duluth YMCA. She enjoyed traveling to Europe, Micronesia, Japan and Vancouver, B.C.

She was preceded in death by her parents; former husband, John W. Holmes and her sister, Gunhild Larsen Smith.

Survivors include her children, John M. Holmes of Duluth, Ransome B. (Lucy) Holmes of Vancouver, B.C., Stephen E. (Sali) Holmes of Clear Lake, Iowa, Anne (Dave) Karakatsoulis of Duluth, Kathy L. Holmes of Duluth, Peggy J. Holmes of Pinole, Calif.; grandchildren, Miriam, Gabe, Eli, Nick, Shopie, Bernard, Heather and Maxwell; great-grandchildren, Mikaela and Jonathon.

A Memorial Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, March 1, 2012, in the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. A gathering of friends and family will be held one hour prior to the service in the church. Memorials may be directed to the Duluth Symphony Orchestra Youth Programs in memory of Elizabeth.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. 2nd St. Duluth, MN. 727-3555.