Obituary for Dennis D. Holien
Dennis Duane Holien - Born June 13, 1944 in Pipestone, MN - Died January 20, 2021 in Sioux Falls, SD
A visitation will be held for Denny at Cornerstone United Methodist Church (1350 11th St. NE) in Watertown, SD, on Monday, January 25, 2021, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The funeral service will be held at Cornerstone on Tuesday, January 26th, at 10:30 a.m. The funeral will also be streamed live via the church’s website, www.cornerstonewat.com. It will be recorded and added to the obituary on Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel’s website www.wightandcomes.com.
Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.
Pallbearers are: Greg Kulesa, Boyd Hopkins, Jim Arlt, Don Holien, David Holien and Richard Holien.
Honorary pallbearers are: all of Dennis' grandchildren.
Music will be: Neal Mack as the soloist and Angie Eickmeyer pianist.
Denny believed he had to keep going because, as he said, “My work for God’s Kingdom is not done yet.” Our Heavenly Father had other plans, but you can make Denny’s work continue by, in lieu of flowers, donating to:
Collision (a ministry promoting Christianity among teens)
3815 South Western Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57105
or give online at: www.collision.org/give
.
To start with what was most important to him, Dennis adored, and in return was cherished by, his twelve grandchildren. “Grandpa Denny” always carried M&Ms to give to them, loved talking to them over meals, and did whatever he could to never miss a game, performance, recital or any life event. His friends and employees (often one in the same) knew that if Denny was ever in a bad mood at a business meeting then all they had to do was ask about his grandkids and he’d immediately smile, tell stories and otherwise totally forget what was making him mad. The grandkids will forever treasure memories of their loving Grandpa Denny, a man who could run several successful companies, but who only recently learned to text.
Denny was born the second of six children (Gerald, Kathee, Donald, David, Richard) of Arthur and Iva (Kahler) Holien, and grew up in Jasper, MN, where he enjoyed many great adventures at “Big Rock” (a rock in a field where all his friends played). From an early age, Denny yearned to succeed in business. As a teenager attending Augustana Academy, he concocted a brilliant Prom business by buying every corsage from local flower shops then selling and delivering them to classmates. He achieved his first management position at age 23 at a Sioux Falls shoe store. His successful management approach—based on customer service and strong marketing—took that location from #297 out of 300 to #1 within months. Hired as a salesman for a Watertown sign company in 1968, Denny increased their sales six-fold and rose to president. Craving independence, he started his own sign company, Persona Inc., in 1980. This was the first of three times in his life when Denny risked absolutely everything he owned on a business deal. A few years later, Inc. Magazine recognized Persona as one of the fastest growing private companies in the US. In 1987, Persona purchased Midcom Inc., manufacturer of electronics for the telecommunications industry. OEM Worldwide (now Spartronics) began in 1989. In 1992, Denny formed ANZA Inc. as the parent company of many more companies that he started or acquired.
Denny started Persona with just three loyal employees, and even as his companies grew to employ over 1,000 people in Watertown, and over 5,000 worldwide, he always cherished those who worked with him to make the companies a success. He always said that people were his companies’ greatest asset. Because of this teamwork, Denny received the 2001 USD “South Dakota Businessman of the Year” award and served as a member of the US Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advisory Council.
On March 6th, 2003, Denny married Michele Kaye (Fiedler) Holien. Denny loved to travel and golf with Michele, as well as with his three sons. He enjoyed watching movies with these four as well. Michele will miss their regular afternoon matinees. His boys will forever cherish memories of watching Midway and James Bond movies with their dad. Denny avidly followed and participated in politics, and he’s certainly the only person ever to decline a call from the Governor of South Dakota because he was busy playing Super Mario World. Denny also pursued his enduring passion for business by buying and running companies, which he continued to do up until his final days.
Denny often said, “I don’t know why the Lord blessed me so much, but I’ll honor Him by blessing others.” He actively supported his church and community with his time, experience and donations. Among many other things, he served as the first president of Watertown’s Lake Area Zoological Society and formed the ANZA Foundation. The foundation donated the largest single gift to the Watertown School District up to that time and provided the funds to build Watertown’s ANZA soccer complex. His faith was of utmost importance to Denny, so in recent years he focused his charitable efforts on promoting Christianity, particularly in young people.
Among those who are sad to lose Denny, but who rejoice in having known him, are three sons from with his first wife Carole (Stein): Darrin and his wife Carolyn, parents of Morgan, Aiden, Pierce and Micah, Bret and his wife Elicia, parents of Charlotte, Henry, Amelia and Evelyn, Ried and his wife Tonya, parents of Rachel, Tessa, Cate and Gabriel
By marriage with Michele, his step-children and grandchildren: Laura Small, mother of Justice and Bradyn, Sherri and her husband Daniel Lehman, and their children Luke and Hans and Jason Roseth. His beloved wife Michele, and all others who knew him, will take solace in knowing that Denny is with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel is serving the family www.wightandcomes.com.
A visitation will be held for Denny at Cornerstone United Methodist Church (1350 11th St. NE) in Watertown, SD, on Monday, January 25, 2021, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The funeral service will be held at Cornerstone on Tuesday, January 26th, at 10:30 a.m. The funeral will also be streamed live via the church’s website, www.cornerstonewat.com. It will be recorded and added to the obituary on Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel’s website www.wightandcomes.com.
Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.
Pallbearers are: Greg Kulesa, Boyd Hopkins, Jim Arlt, Don Holien, David Holien and Richard Holien.
Honorary pallbearers are: all of Dennis' grandchildren.
Music will be: Neal Mack as the soloist and Angie Eickmeyer pianist.
Denny believed he had to keep going because, as he said, “My work for God’s Kingdom is not done yet.” Our Heavenly Father had other plans, but you can make Denny’s work continue by, in lieu of flowers, donating to:
Collision (a ministry promoting Christianity among teens)
3815 South Western Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57105
or give online at: www.collision.org/give
.
To start with what was most important to him, Dennis adored, and in return was cherished by, his twelve grandchildren. “Grandpa Denny” always carried M&Ms to give to them, loved talking to them over meals, and did whatever he could to never miss a game, performance, recital or any life event. His friends and employees (often one in the same) knew that if Denny was ever in a bad mood at a business meeting then all they had to do was ask about his grandkids and he’d immediately smile, tell stories and otherwise totally forget what was making him mad. The grandkids will forever treasure memories of their loving Grandpa Denny, a man who could run several successful companies, but who only recently learned to text.
Denny was born the second of six children (Gerald, Kathee, Donald, David, Richard) of Arthur and Iva (Kahler) Holien, and grew up in Jasper, MN, where he enjoyed many great adventures at “Big Rock” (a rock in a field where all his friends played). From an early age, Denny yearned to succeed in business. As a teenager attending Augustana Academy, he concocted a brilliant Prom business by buying every corsage from local flower shops then selling and delivering them to classmates. He achieved his first management position at age 23 at a Sioux Falls shoe store. His successful management approach—based on customer service and strong marketing—took that location from #297 out of 300 to #1 within months. Hired as a salesman for a Watertown sign company in 1968, Denny increased their sales six-fold and rose to president. Craving independence, he started his own sign company, Persona Inc., in 1980. This was the first of three times in his life when Denny risked absolutely everything he owned on a business deal. A few years later, Inc. Magazine recognized Persona as one of the fastest growing private companies in the US. In 1987, Persona purchased Midcom Inc., manufacturer of electronics for the telecommunications industry. OEM Worldwide (now Spartronics) began in 1989. In 1992, Denny formed ANZA Inc. as the parent company of many more companies that he started or acquired.
Denny started Persona with just three loyal employees, and even as his companies grew to employ over 1,000 people in Watertown, and over 5,000 worldwide, he always cherished those who worked with him to make the companies a success. He always said that people were his companies’ greatest asset. Because of this teamwork, Denny received the 2001 USD “South Dakota Businessman of the Year” award and served as a member of the US Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advisory Council.
On March 6th, 2003, Denny married Michele Kaye (Fiedler) Holien. Denny loved to travel and golf with Michele, as well as with his three sons. He enjoyed watching movies with these four as well. Michele will miss their regular afternoon matinees. His boys will forever cherish memories of watching Midway and James Bond movies with their dad. Denny avidly followed and participated in politics, and he’s certainly the only person ever to decline a call from the Governor of South Dakota because he was busy playing Super Mario World. Denny also pursued his enduring passion for business by buying and running companies, which he continued to do up until his final days.
Denny often said, “I don’t know why the Lord blessed me so much, but I’ll honor Him by blessing others.” He actively supported his church and community with his time, experience and donations. Among many other things, he served as the first president of Watertown’s Lake Area Zoological Society and formed the ANZA Foundation. The foundation donated the largest single gift to the Watertown School District up to that time and provided the funds to build Watertown’s ANZA soccer complex. His faith was of utmost importance to Denny, so in recent years he focused his charitable efforts on promoting Christianity, particularly in young people.
Among those who are sad to lose Denny, but who rejoice in having known him, are three sons from with his first wife Carole (Stein): Darrin and his wife Carolyn, parents of Morgan, Aiden, Pierce and Micah, Bret and his wife Elicia, parents of Charlotte, Henry, Amelia and Evelyn, Ried and his wife Tonya, parents of Rachel, Tessa, Cate and Gabriel
By marriage with Michele, his step-children and grandchildren: Laura Small, mother of Justice and Bradyn, Sherri and her husband Daniel Lehman, and their children Luke and Hans and Jason Roseth. His beloved wife Michele, and all others who knew him, will take solace in knowing that Denny is with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel is serving the family www.wightandcomes.com.