Luella Holden

Luella Holden, 95 of Webster died Sunday August 5, 2012 at Bethesda Home in Webster. Her funeral service will be 2 P.M. Friday August 10, 2012 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Webster with Rev. Daniel Ostercamp officiating. Burial will be at Bergan Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday 5 – 7 P.M. at the funeral home and prior to services on Friday at the church. Luella Evangeline Hong was born on Friday, July 13, 1917 to G. Ben and Lila (Reed) Hong in Webster, South Dakota. The family lived in Roslyn where she grew up. She was baptized and confirmed at Roslyn Lutheran Church. At the age of three she was stricken with Infantile Paralysis, and later diagnosed with Post Polio Syndrome in 1988. In the 1920’s she made many trips by train to the Shriner’s Hospital in St. Paul, where she had many operations on her leg. She wore braces, and used crutches, canes and walkers nearly all her life. In 1935 she graduated from Roslyn High School and attended Northern State Teacher’s College in Aberdeen where she received a Teaching Certificate. She taught rural schools in Lynn Township #150 and Nutley Township #169, before going Minnesota and graduating from Twin Cities Business College. She was the secretary for Dr. Ancel Keys, a famous physiologist, who invented the K Ration for World War II serviceman and, the later popularized, Mediterranean Diet. On December 31, 1944 she married J. Marvin Holden at Roslyn Lutheran Church. The couple made their home on three different farms in Lynn and Kidder Townships. Their first home had no electricity or plumbing. In 1960, she renewed her teaching certificate and taught Kidder Township # 113 rural school for one year before it closed. In 1961 she began working as secretary-receptionist-bookkeeper in the Day County Hospital. She enjoyed meeting all the people in the county who came there. In 1978 the couple moved to a new house in Webster, which was owned by their son, Richard. In 1980, she retired after working twenty years in the hospital. Marvin passed away in 1994. In January 2008 she entered Bethesda Home in Webster due to a rotator cuff injury from years of pressure when walking with appliances. She was a member of Bergen Lutheran Church north of Bristol where she taught Sunday School, Ladies Aide and Circle officer. She also sang in the choir and the Bergen Ladies Trio for thirty-five years. In 1985 she became a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster where she sang in the choir and was active in Circle and W.E.L.C.A. She was also a member of Women’s Auxiliary, Sons of Norway, Extension Club and served on the local election board many times. Her many hobbies included letter writing, reading, singing, cooking, baking, Rosemaling, Hardanger, crocheting, calligraphy, playing the cornet, guitar and Auto-harp. She also became adept at the computer. The whole family enjoyed many trips to eight different countries in Europe, Honolulu, Winnipeg, a Caribbean cruise and to many states. She had a strong faith in God, trusting in Him to carry out His plans for her long life, and praying for guidance to do His will. She also gave encouragement to others by being a good witness. She will be remembered driving her electric chair “Jazzy” to church services and other activities. Luella passed away on Sunday, August 5, 2012 at Webster, South Dakota at the age of 95 years and 23 days. Survivors include three sons, Robert (Kathie) Holden of Elizabeth, CO, Richard (Rabiab) Holden of Columbus, MS and John Mark (Julia) Holden of Coral Springs, FL; two brothers, Ben L. Hong of Richardson, TX and Raydon (Margit) Hong of Minnetonka, MN; one sister, Jewel (Marlin) Sigaty of Colorado Springs, CO; two sisters-in-law, Selma Brandvold of Temple City, CA and Marian (Art) Leininger of Oak Brook, IL; four grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and five step-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Marvin and one brother, Percy.