Gayle Lynn Holida

Gayle L Holida, 84, of Chester, South Dakota passed away on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Madison Care and Rehabilitation Center, Madison, South Dakota.

Funeral services will be 10:30am, Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Ellsworth Funeral Home, Madison with inurnment in Our Redeemer Lutheran Cemetery, Bryant, South Dakota. Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Saturday. There will be military rites by American Legion Post 25, Madison, South Dakota.

Gayle was born in Naples, South Dakota on October 13, 1934 to Matt and Frances (Wopat) Holida and was the youngest of six children.  He attended school in Vienna SD.  After school, Gayle joined the army and was stationed in Alaska, having proudly served two tours of duty.

After Gayle was honorably discharged from the army, he began working at John Morrell in Sioux Falls.   He was united in marriage to Beverly Ann Gunderson on September 4, 1962, in Pipestone Minnesota and they made their home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and shortly after moved to an acreage north of Renner, South Dakota. In 1976, Gayle and his wife Beverly bought a farm near Chester South Dakota. Gayle continued to work at Morells and also farmed.  Gayle retired from Morrells in 1995 and retired from farming in 2002. 

After retirement, Gayle and Beverly enjoyed visiting with family and friends.  Gayle’s passion was taking care of the farm animals, especially the cats later in life.  Gayle played an influential and active role in the lives of his nieces and nephews.  He enjoyed the kids taking turns spending summers with him and Beverly when they lived in Renner and after they moved to the farm near Chester. Gayle was a wonderful husband to his wife Beverly and uncle to his nieces and nephews.  He will be greatly missed by all.

Those grateful for having shared in his life include his wife Beverly of Chester, SD; brother-in-law Kenneth Gunderson of Sioux Falls, SD; sister-in-law Katherine Holida of Minneapolis, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.   

Gayle was preceded in death by parents; four brothers; Harold and (his wife Mary), Walter and (his wife Arlene), Archie and Lester Holida and a sister, Elaine Alwin.

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