Dorothy Holt

Dorothy Holt, age 95, of Ralph, SD, passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon, SD.

Funeral services for Dorothy were held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 1, 2025 at the Slim Buttes Lutheran Church in Reva, SD.  Rev. Henry Mohagen officiated and following a time of fellowship and refreshments, burial  followed in the Holt Family Cemetery near Ralph, SD.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Dorothy Holt was born on January 3, 1930, in Reeder, ND, to William and Anna (Oliver) Olson.  She grew up north of Reva, SD, and attended a country school.  She graduated from high school and pursued her teaching degree in Hot Springs, SD, while she lived with her Grandma Oliver.  

Dorothy taught at the Olson School, Ramble School and Ralph School.  While teaching at the Olson School, Dorothy met the mail carrier, Tony.  After a year of courting Tony and Dorothy were married and the couple moved to Ralph.  

From an early age Dorothy’s artistic abilities were evident in her drawings, schoolwork and penmanship.  When Dorothy started a task, it was mastered and finished.  With simple tools such as a saw, hammer, nails and glue, she’d build most anything.  At the sewing machine she created and clothed her family and many neighbors.  Shirts, dresses, pants and everything in between with a design and flair that was unequaled.  When the layers of denim got thick, she just hand cranked that old Singer through it.  Mittens and gloves of every size and color by the dozens, even one 6 fingered glove.  She gardened, made soap, and could behead a chicken like a pro.  

Dorothy was held in high regard when it came to the kitchen.  Bake, boil, fry, roast, she did it all with precision and perfection. And she did it all with the ease of a gentle breeze.  She mastered it, succeeded at all of it, because she did it all with a heart overflowing with love.

Unequaled was her passion for learning.  She read and studied relentlessly especially the bible.  She had an undying devotion to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  As a result, she was a wealth of knowledge and shared treasured advice with all who asked.

Any and all associated with the nursing home in Lemmon were well aware of her rooster crows.  Residents, visitors, kids of all ages asked to visit the lady that “crows like a rooster”.  Dorothy was the ultimate wife, perfect mother and the most loving grandmother.  With actions and words, Dorothy laid down an example for her children.  She left behind a flawless legacy for all of us to reach for. 

She passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon, SD.

Dorothy is survived by three sons, Tom (Mary Lu) Holt, Mike Holt and Bill (Becky) Holt; three daughters, Wanda (Mike) Pullen, Kathy Larsen and Barb (Jeff) Harper; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Holt; and numerous nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Tony; brother, Billy; one great-grandson, Kelton Pullen; and son-in-law, Charles Larsen.