Beverly Holida

Beverly A. Holida, age 87, passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at Hilda's Heritage Home in Lennox, SD.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Crawford-Osthus/Johnson-Henry Funeral Chapel in Arlington, SD.

Burial at Our Redeemer Lutheran Cemetery in Bryant, SD. Pastor Dave Nerdig will officiate. Honorary pallbearers will be Beverly’s great nieces and nephews: Stephanie Weber, Jennifer Jepsen, Natalie Gunderson, Matt Gunderson, Cory Gunderson, Mike Gunderson, and Andrew Gunderson.

Family requests that in lieu of flowers or memorials, please donate in Beverly's honor to a charity of your choice.

Beverly Ann Holida was born on August 1, 1936, to Adolph and Dorothy (Collins) Gunderson. She grew up on a farm Northeast of Bryant SD, where she graduated from Bryant High School in 1954. Following high school, Beverly attended community college in Webster City, Iowa.

As a child, Beverly loved all animals and had a special cat named “Hitler” and Hitler had kittens. Growing up, she also had a pony, Prince, who lived long enough to share in the lives of her niece and nephews. She always thought of herself as a tomboy. Often she talked about the times she stayed at her grandparents’ house in Bryant. Beverly was musically talented, playing the guitar, piano and organ. She and her brothers would entertain the family with her playing guitar, one brother on the accordion and the other on steel guitar.

On September 4, 1962, Beverly was united in marriage to Gayle Holida. They moved to Sioux Falls. Early in their marriage, Beverly and Gayle traveled to the Black Hills and Colorado. After they bought an acreage near Renner, Beverly kept busy as a homemaker and taking care of the acreage and livestock. They had a pony named Willy that kept their niece and nephews entertained. In 1976, they purchased a farm east of Chester where they resided until Gayle’s death in November of 2018.  

While on the farm, Beverly had a big garden and could grow cabbages the size of basketballs. She always had many flowers and loved petunias. She was a wonderful seamstress and crocheted numerous doll clothes, blankets and throws. After Gayle retired from farming in 2002, they went to the casinos in Watertown, Flandreau, and Larchwood enjoying the music and trying their luck at the slots. Beverly and Gayle did not have children of their own. They enjoyed spoiling their niece and nephews and provided opportunities for them to spend time with them in the summer.

Beverly is survived by her niece Cynthia (Darwin) Minder of Lennox and nephews, Douglas (Amy) Gunderson of Burnsville MN, Kevin (Julie) Gunderson and Craig (Julie) Gunderson both of Volga, SD, and Terry Gunderson, Sioux Falls; 7 great nieces and nephews and 8 great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Edgar and sister-in-law Darlene and her brother Gene and great nephew, Christopher Gunderson.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel  www.crawfordosthus.com  De Smet, Bryant, Watertown, Hayti, Arlington, Lake Preston, Oldham

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