Dennis Dean Holst, 74, peacefully passed away on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at Bryan West Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska, surrounded by all five of his children, following a sudden illness.

Dennis was born on April 2, 1951, in Odell, Nebraska, to Irvin and Lorinda (Wasserman) Holst. He was raised in Odell and graduated from Odell High School in 1969. Shortly after, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on active duty from 1969 to 1973 at Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

On June 19, 1970, Dennis married Nancy (Crawford) at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Beatrice, Nebraska. Nancy joined him in Hawaii for the first three and a half years of their marriage before they returned to Odell in 1973. That same year, Dennis and Nancy began farming and raising cattle.

In 1979, Dennis and his family moved to Denver, Colorado, where he attended Bear Valley Bible Institute. He graduated in 1983, after which the family returned to Odell. Dennis began preaching full-time for the Marysville church of Christ in Marysville, Kansas, while continuing to farm. Over the next 34 years, he also served as a minister for the Beatrice church of Christ, Fairbury church of Christ, and the Odell church of Christ, continuing his ministry until his retirement in 2018.

Dennis lived a full and joyful life. He loved farming, traveling the world, hunting, riding motorcycles, telling dad jokes, volunteering for hospice, and working with Camp IaNeKaMo. He had a passion for sharing his faith in Jesus and cherished time spent with family and friends on his patio. He also treasured the years he lived on Oahu and Molokai.

He is survived by his five children: Kristi Smith and husband Gregg of Utila, Honduras, Adam Holst of Odell, Dustin Holst of Leesburg, Virginia, Kat Jackson and husband, Brandon of St. Peters, Missouri, and Andrew Holst and wife Jordan of Diller. Dennis was a proud grandfather to 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren and 2 more expected this fall. He is also survived by two brothers: Larry Holst and wife Sharon of Independence, Missouri, and Ron Holst and wife Dianne of Odell, Nebraska; and two sisters: Judy Krause and husband Steve of Odell, Nebraska, and Vickie Barnard and husband Dave of Beatrice, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents, Irvin and Lorinda Holst, and his beloved wife, Nancy (Crawford) Holst.

A funeral will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, July 7, 2025 at Venue 36 (former VFW) in Marysville with Levi Oehm officiating. Burial will be at the Marysville Cemetery. A family prayer service will begin at 9:45AM. The body will lie in state at the Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore on Sunday from 1:30 PM to 8:00 PM with the family greeting relatives and friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Dennis Holst Memorial Fund at the Marysville church of Christ with the funeral home in charge. All proceeds will go toward the beautification of the church grounds and building. Contributions may be made online at https://giveahand.com/fundraiser/dennis-holst-memorial-fund or by check payable to the Dennis Holst Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home, 505 N 9th, Wymore NE 68466.

In honor of Dennis's memory, we encourage you to visit his memorial page at www.ghchapel.com to share your fondest memories and photos and view his video tribute and funeral service. His spirit lives on in the stories we share and the smiles he brought to our lives. Philippians 4:4-10, 13

And finally, in Dennis’s spirit of humor and joy:

What’s the difference between an alligator and a crocodile?

One you see later, and one you see after a while.

These services have been entrusted to Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore.