Kevin Holt, age 72, of White River, South Dakota, died on Friday, October 2, 2026 at his home in White River.

Memorial Services will be held 11:00 a.m. CDT Saturday, October 10, at the United Methodist Church in White River.

Interment with military honors will follow at the White River Cemetery.

Kevin Bass Holt was born June 4, 1949, to Raymond and Esther Holt, in Pocahontas, Iowa. Around 1951, at three years old, Kevin moved with his brother Randy and their parents to Phoenix, Arizona, to benefit his father’s health. During this time, his sister Vanessa was added to the family. He grew up in Phoenix, graduating high school in a class of 1,000 students, and went on to attend college for a year.

In January 1969, Kevin entered the United States Army. He served honorably until receiving a medical discharge due to family medical complications. Following his military service, Kevin dedicated 30 years of his career to law enforcement. He began as an officer with the Phoenix Police Department for 10 years. During his time with the department, he even worked as a stunt double for Clint Eastwood in the movie The Gauntlet.

Kevin then relocated his family to Minnesota, where he drove cross-country for Trinity Trucking Company, accumulating countless stories from his travels across the United States. Returning to Phoenix, he served another 20 years in law enforcement as a high-powered armed security officer at the largest nuclear power plant in the nation. Following an early retirement due to a work-related accident, Kevin relocated to South Dakota to work on the ranch owned by his sister Vanessa and brother-in-law Dan. Later in life, he worked for several years at the Co-op.

It was in South Dakota that Kevin met his wife, Frankie. After dating for a year and a half, Kevin proposed, and the two were married on July 4, 2007. Together for 19 cherished years, they built a life filled with shared passions which included gardening, family cookouts, movies, and occasional trips to the dance floor (even if it took a little persuasion to drag Kevin out there). One of Kevin’s most cherished traditions was playing Santa Claus for many years alongside Frankie as Mrs. Claus each holiday season which brough endless joy to countless local children. In his free time, Kevin loved going fishing with his close friend Bob Bouman, always returning home with a full bucket of fish and wild stories to tell.

Above all else, Kevin lived for his family and loved his wife endlessly until the end. He was a hard-working man who stayed in close touch with his many lifelong friends.

Survivors include his wife Frankie (Bechtold) Holt of White River; children: Kimberly Ayers of Surprize, AZ, Sean (Nessa) Holt and Family of Newnan, GA, Shannon (Jason) Saari and Family of Helena, MT, Stephanie (Miguel) Velasco and Family of Glendale, AZ, and April (Shad) Stromer and Family of Ft. Pierre; grandchildren: Kody Ayers, Jeremiah Saari, Kaelyn Saari, Lincoln Saari, Mack Saari, Nash Saari, Nick (Kinkaid) Velasco, Alex Velasco, Morgan Velasco, Conner Holt, Cadence Holt, Carter Holt, Collin Holt, Alex (Justin) Bouman, Shandra (Jason) Hapney, and Tyra Stromer; great-grandchildren: Riley Bouman and Kinsley Hapney; brother Randy (Karen) Holt of Phoenix, AZ; sister Vanessa (Dan) Hight of White River;

Kevin was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Holt, and his mother, Esther Holt.

Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.