David Lee Bolhouse, passed away peacefully at home in Olivet, South Dakota on June 23, 2026. He was 88 years old.

Dave was born in Watertown, SD, in his aunt’s house on January 6, 1938 the son of Art and Elsie (Franklin) Bolhouse. He received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior as a young boy in church. That decision would define every aspect of his life for the next 80 years. He was a very conscientious, faithful, devoted, and loving boy and man.

Dave lost his mom when he was age 5. He and his two young brothers were mostly raised by his older sisters for several years after that. His dad worked as a school janitor and remarried a school teacher when Dave was about 10 years old. He thought of his mother every single day for the rest of his life.

At the young age of 13, he started working as a farm hand on the outskirts of Watertown with a family from his church. He saved every dollar for five years and bought his first car with cash. That sums up Dave in a nutshell. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1956.

Dave served in the South Dakota National Guard after high school and next attended St. Paul Bible Institute where he met Eileen Patterson, the love of his life. They married at a Baptist church on Valentine’s Day in 1959 in Sioux City, IA on a very cold and icy day. And they were happily married for over 66 years when Eileen passed away in 2025.

Dave worked in several capacities, starting out as a young husband and then soon-to-be father he worked at Timmerman’s Cabinetry and Lumberyard learning fine cabinetry and developing his woodworking skills. During the early years of married life he spent many, many hours in his own basement workshop building everything from radio speakers to doghouses. He also had a setup in his workshop to load his own ammunition for his gun.

In his mid-twenties, Dave’s brother-in-law, Ezra Griepp, nudged him into working as a life insurance agent for Midland National Life Insurance Company in Watertown where he also was employed. Dave started working for Midland in 1962. Midland National Life eventually moved their home office from Watertown to beautiful Sioux Falls in the late 1970’s. And a few years later, in1982, Dave took on a new role as a computer programmer for Midland. That was back in the days before laptops, when computers took up several rooms in Midland’s basement. It was a challenging career move, and he excelled at it, becoming one of the top programmers for the company nationwide. Time rolled on, and Midland became Sammons Financial Group.

Dave finally retired from Sammons in 2006. But soon after that went back to working for them “part-time” as a temp until he was 80½ years old. Quite unexpectantly during his retirement, he discovered a new passion, which was driving part-time for Jackrabbit Bus Lines. He drove chartered buses for marching bands, athletic teams and various other groups from South Dakota to events around the country. He loved driving cross-country, not being behind a desk, and meeting new people of all ages.

Dave had a few hobbies in his younger years he enjoyed pheasant hunting, camping with his family, woodworking and what would be called today DIY projects. He also enjoyed lots of music; singing with his family around the piano at church and harmonizing in men’s quartets as special music on a Sunday morning as well as in the choir. For several years he sang with the Watertown Barbershop Chorus and Quartet, “The Midlanders” when he lived in Watertown.

Dave was an unforgettable man and a true gentleman. He was loved by all who knew him and was known as a kind, honest, and hard-working man, who had a dry sense of humor. He lived his life for Christ, never speaking a foul word, never drinking a drop of alcohol or trying a cigarette, as his dad made him promise as a little boy. He kept that promise. He respected his parents and loved his family and friends dearly.

David was preceded in death by his father and mother Art and Elsie Bolhouse; stepmother Madeline Bolhouse; sisters Verna (and Ezra) Griepp and Mavis (and Glen) Isack; brothers Dan Bolhouse and Dean Bolhouse (killed in Vietnam); nephews Doug Griepp, Jeff Isack, Heath Bolhouse and granddaugter, Tatum Wagner. He is survived by his five children; Cynthia (Roger) Eng of Norwood Young America, MN, Shari Hamilton (Matt Winne) of Olivet, SD; Joan (Doug) Wagner of Andover, MN, Steven (Patty) Bolhouse of Yankton, SD; Timothy Bolhouse of Sioux Falls; grandchildren Matthew (Melissa) Christopherson, Jacob (Chelsea) Hamilton, Jordan (Anna) Christopherson, Richard (Ashley) Eng, Ellie (Aaron) Hamilton Crossman, Reginald Eng, Seth (Ashley) Christopherson, Lindsay Christopherson, Kai Rose (Caleb) McCormick, Tonya Wagner, Oliver Bolhouse, Zachary Bolhouse; great-grandchildren Ella, Athan, Adelynn Eng, and Brynn, Avery, Charis, Bruce Christopherson; sisters-in-law Ruth Bolhouse and Lana Bolhouse; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

His was a life well-lived; generous, caring, helpful and faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ, faithful to his wife, and devoted to his family. He was also dedicated to his church family at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church for over thirty years in Watertown and at the Linwood Wesleyan Church in Sioux Falls for several more decades. He served as Sunday School teacher for the young people and on the church board and as church treasurer for many years.

Dave was a man who gained the love and admiration not only of his family and friends, but even of strangers. He was a rare, gentle soul. And his life could be summed up with this passage in the Bible written by Paul. Colossians 3:16-17, 23-24. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

” vs. 17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” vs. 23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Dave took those words to heart everyday of his life, and he is cherished by his family because of it. Every morning at 4am before leaving for work he would be sitting by the light of a lamp reading the Word of God and praying for his family. He left his mark on each of those who knew him well and his children were blessed to call him their father.

A private family graveside service will be held at Mount Hope Cemetery in Watertown, SD.

Friends and family are invited to sign the online guest register and leave written condolences at WestRiverfd.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Dean Moncur at West River Funeral Directors in Rapid City, SD.