Larry Don Holland
November 29, 1947 ~ November 18, 2025
Larry D. Holland passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Rock Rapids, IA on November 18, 2025, just 11 days shy of his 78th birthday.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Larry in Rock Rapids on December 7, 2025, at 4:30 pm at the Rock Community Church. A memorial service for Larry will be held on April 25, 2026, at the Methodist Church in Montrose, SD, at 2:00 pm with visitation at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow at the Montrose Cemetery.
Larry Don Holland was born November 29, 1947, in Fredrick, OK, to Milton and Clara (Zitterkob) Holland. Larry spent most of his life in Montrose, SD, after briefly residing in both Oklahoma and North Dakota. He and his wife, Mary (Ullom), made their way to Rock Rapids, IA, to be closer to family during retirement, where he lived the remainder of his days.
Larry attended Montrose Public School for all twelve years of his early education and was active in football, basketball, track and baseball. He was always well-liked, with a competitive nature that fueled his love for playing games with all of the kids in the neighborhood.
He was passionate about education and after graduating from high school, Larry went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, with a minor in History and Physical Education from Dakota State University in 1970. He taught World History and Government and also assisted coaching the high school wrestling team at Howard High School for over 40 years.
Larry met his wife, Mary, at the DSU campus library, where she was responsible for overdue books and he always seemed to have a large stack of past-due titles. Larry and Mary were married on August 21, 1971, and to this union, two sons were born: Keith, in April 1978 and Mark, in May 1983.
In 1982, Howard High School administration requested Holland earn a degree in counseling, so he attended South Dakota State University in Brookings in 1982-83 and earned his master’s degree in counseling, then becoming the school’s guidance counselor, in addition to his teaching and coaching duties for the remainder of his career. Larry was incredibly dedicated to all of his roles in education and was known for his commitment to help students in any way possible, even opening his home for those who needed a place to stay from time to time. Larry also picked up the role of bus-driver, simply because there was a need, and continued to provide this service well into his retirement years.
Larry was honored for his dedication to the Howard public schools by former South Dakota Governor, Dennis Daugaard, when April 28, 2017 was officially declared “Larry Holland Day” in South Dakota. Not only did Larry teach, coach, counsel and drive bus, but he also volunteered for several proms, school events and a variety of community activities. Larry was a true helper, always willing to give his time and energy to others.
Some of Larry’s summer jobs, while teaching, included setting up tents for summer camp in Boston, MA, for over 20 years; campground manager; ambulance volunteer; exterior painting; groundskeeper for the Howard Golf Course; and managing his own tent service throughout the state of SD. Of the many jobs Larry performed over the years, teaching history, painting and coaching were his favorite.
As Larry transitioned into retirement, he also began managing low-income housing in 2011, while still teaching at Howard. The majority of his retirement years were spent in Rock Rapids, where he continued to be active in roles such as substitute teacher in the area school districts and eventually driver for the RIDES company. Larry finally retired from all paid work activities in May 2025.
In his free time, Larry enjoyed spending time with family, especially his grandchildren. He also enjoyed gardening – both at home and in the Rock Rapids community garden. Larry also made it a point to follow both Howard and Central Lyon sports and activities. He was on several committees with the Lyon County Democrats, most recently serving as Vice Chair. Not long ago, he and Mary were honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for their volunteer efforts by Iowa state party leadership. Larry was also a very active member of the Rock Community Church. He truly enjoyed staying in touch with friends from over the years, particularly those in the Montrose Breakfast Club.
Larry is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary; sons, Keith (Pam) and Mark (Kari); along with eight grandchildren, Madelyn, Lauryn, Kassandra, Lincoln, Sofia, Anslei, Zael, and Emery; siblings, Wanda (Ron) Rasmussen, Terry (Genadean), Judy Struck, Jerry, Nancy (Wayne) Warne, and Garry (Jill); and several nieces and nephews.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Clara Holland; several aunts and uncles; and various nieces and nephews.
I’m so sorry to hear of Mr Holland’s passing. I will fondly remember his quiet teaching moments, his kindness, and his sense of humor. I respected him greatly.
Dear. Holland family, I am sorry to read about Larry’s passing. He’s a great guy. He always helped Montrose out in the Irish Spudfest Days with tents for different events. I truly enjoyed visiting with him. May he rest in peace.