Arla Holden Obituary

Arla Carol Holden, 80, passed away at The Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings, SD. Visitation will take place from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Monday, February 9, 2026 at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings, SD. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Cemetery in Estelline, SD.  

In Loving Memory of Arla Carol Holden Today we gather to remember and celebrate the life of Arla Carol (Brown) Holden, a mother, grandmother, wife, and friend whose life was rooted in hard work, care for others, and quiet strength.

Arla was born on November 9th, 1945, to Clarence and Gertrude (Mitchell) Brown, and was raised on a farm northeast of Estelline, South Dakota. Those early years on the farm helped shape who she became—someone who understood responsibility early, valued perseverance, and never shied away from work that needed to be done.

After graduating from Estelline High School, Arla attended South Dakota State University, where she met her future husband, Lee Holden. They were married on a bitterly cold, sub-zero day in January of 1967, a fitting beginning for a partnership that would weather many seasons together. Arla and Lee raised their family in Malta, Montana and Elko, Nevada, before eventually returning to Estelline, where they took over the family farm.

No matter where life took her, Arla made each place a home—one filled with food, laughter, and a sense of belonging. She had many talents and interests. Arla loved dancing, cooking, and creating her well[1]known “Arla’s Pheasant Feather Earrings.” Even later in life, she continued learning, graduating from SDSU in 1995 with a degree in Sociology. True to who she was, she used that degree not for herself alone, but to help others—working with the U.S. Census Bureau, the Estelline Care Center, and South Dakota Social Services in Webster.

In April of 1999, tragedy struck when Arla suffered a brain aneurysm that resulted in partial paralysis and limited communication. Life changed dramatically, but her presence, her love, and her importance never diminished. Even when words were few, she continued to teach those around her about patience, resilience, and unconditional love. Arla was the proud mother of four; Carrie (Burton) Raymer, Beth Lanier, Nathan Holden and his wife, Heidi, and Grant Holden and his wife, Bethany. She was also a loving grandmother to six; Brooke, Brady, Isabelle, Isaac, Elle, and Gray—each of whom was a source of great pride and joy to her.

Arla’s life reminds us that strength doesn’t always look loud or dramatic. Sometimes it looks like showing up every day, caring for others, and continuing on—even when the road is hard. The family would like to offer special thanks to all the dedicated caregivers who took such wonderful care of Arla. Their kindness and compassion will never be forgotten. She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever held in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.