Allen Alfred Holst, 91, died Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at Rolling Hills Health Care in Belle Fourche, SD.

Graveside Services with military honors will be held at Black Hills National Cemetery Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 2:00 P.M.

Allen was born July 29, 1932, at the Sturgis hospital to Ernest and Dora (Trigg) Holst. Allen attended eight years at the Farview School just a mile away from his home. He graduated from Vale High School in 1950. After high school he worked on the family farm and Ft. Meade, He moved to Rapid City, finding employment at a Studebaker car dealership, His love for Studebakers never wavered and became a hobby for him. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954-1958, earning a Good Conduct Medal and a AACS Squadron Medal.

He married Kathleen Hammerquist in 1955. Allen was stationed in Biloxi, MS, Great Falls, MT, and Tucson, AZ., where Jeannine was born. Allen left the Air Force and moved to Caputa, and then Rapid City and worked at Lobdell Machine and Electric. Following the Air Force Allen attended the South Dakota School of Mines, in Rapid City. In 1960, he began his career with the Federal Aviation Administration in Lincoln, NE, where Janice was born. The family returned to Rapid City in 1965 where Allen continued to work for the FAA at the Rapid City airport. In 1985, he was transferred to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then to Prescott, AZ, where he retired in 1993.

Allen had skills as a mechanic, and electrician which were much appreciated by family and friends. He built his family a house in west Rapid City in the 1970s. He was an active member of the Elks, the Lions and was part of the Big Brother program.

Allen was loved by Kathleen's friends and family, who readily adopted him as their own. While raising his two daughters, Jeannine and Janice, his cousin, Ed Trigg, joined the family.

After Allen retired from the FAA, he went back to work as an independent contractor for Raytheon which took him to many interesting jobs along the West Coast and Hawaii. During these years he had four grandchildren and was able to spend a lot of quality time with them. After much travel and a nomadic lifestyle, he wanted to return home to the family property near Vale and spend his time working on different projects.

Allen loved animals, especially cats, often bringing home animals in need. He loved sailing and even built his own sailboat (it was referred to as the stone boat). He secretly took dance lessons which led to many hours dancing with Kathleen. He was a wonderful role model for his grandchildren. He was mostly known for his ability to fix anything, anywhere, a wonderful legacy.

Allen is survived by his daughters Janice Takagi, Arizona, and Jeannine Cormane, California; sister Judy Ollila, Vale, SD; four grandchildren Frank Cormane of California, Tyler, Alyssa, and Kyle Takagi of Arizona; and many nieces and nephews.

Allen is preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Dora (Trigg) Holst; brothers, Roger, Kenneth, and twin, Alvin Holst; former wife, Kathleen Hammerquist Holst; and special friend Donna Eagan.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a memorial donation to your favorite pet rescue organization.

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