Lee Joseph Holden, 79, of Estelline, passed away Friday, June 23, 2017 at his son's home under hospice care.  Lee was born on November 11, 1937 in Colome, South Dakota, the youngest son of Joseph and Margaret (Pettit) Holden.

Lee graduated from Winner High School in 1956.  Lee was enlisted in the US Air Force from 1958 to 1962 as a Corpsman (Medic) stationed in North Africa, Europe and Korea.  He primarily drove ambulances and enjoyed playing football (middle linebacker) for the Air Force.

Through the GI Bill, Lee continued his education at South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings, SD, where he graduated with dual Bachelor of Science Degrees in Range Management and in Agronomy (focused in Soil Sciences).  He was the first in his family to graduate with a Bachelor's Degree.  All four of Lee's children also graduated from SDSU with Bachelor's or Master's Degrees.

He was united in marriage to Arla Carol Brown (of Estelline) on January 29, 1966 in Brookings, South Dakota.

From 1966 through 1980 he was employed by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM), living in Malta, MT and Elko, NV.  Towards the end of his BLM career, during the summer, Lee would fight forest fires all over the West.  Lee moved his young family to Estelline in 1980 to raise his children on the family farm. At that time, his father-in-law (Clarence Brown) elected to semi-retire from farming allowed Lee the opportunity to pursue his lifelong dream of raising cattle.  Lee continued to farm and run cattle until his death. His youngest son, Grant, shares Lee's dream of farming and will continue working the family farm.

Lee was a devout Catholic, father, and husband.

Lee is survived by his wife, Arla of Brookings; 2 daughters, Carrie Holden of Watertown, SD and Beth Lanier of Las Vegas, NV; 2 sons, Nathan (Heidi) Holden of Webberville, MI and Grant (Bethany) Holden of Estelline, SD; 6 grandchildren, Brooke, Brady, Isabelle, Isaac, Elle, and Gray; sister Rita; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and both brothers, Allan Holden and Earl Holden.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am, Thursday, June 29, 2017 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, in Estelline, SD.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Wednesday at Geise Funeral Chapel in Estelline.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Nature Conservancy ( www.nature.org , 410 3rd Ave South, Clear Lake, SD 57226) in Lee's name.