Donald and Merna Holkum

Donald Gene Holkum was born on March 22, 1934 to Dude and Florence Holkum. Merna B Holkum was born on July 10, 1938 to Emil and Ruth Dietz. Merna passed away on May 14, 2023 and was joined shortly after by her loving husband, Donald on May 17, 2023. 

Merna was raised in the flat lands on a farm in Russell, KS. She milked cows and collected eggs from chickens. While her mother did the cooking, things like bierocks and noodles that cannot be recreated, Merna washed the dishes as her mother passed them through the dining room in the old farmhouse. Merna loved to drive. This included driving the wheat truck as well as a Mercury that she often spent time drag racing.

Donald lettered in all sports in high school and played guitar almost daily throughout his entire life. He never failed to complete a crossword – even the tough ones on Sundays! He loved horses and used to break them. He also enjoyed playing dominoes with friends and family. He considered it great fun and was very competitive.

Merna and Donald met on a date in Gorham, KS. Donald would drive out to Russell and pick Merna up. They got married on April 15, 1956 in Hays, KS. They were married 67 years.

They are survived by children, Donald Holkum II, Mark Holkum, and Roxann Hauser and partner, Spike Love; son-in-law, Jeffrey Hauser; grandchildren, Megan Mosher and husband, Wade, James Holkum and partner, Chris Field, Sarah Prophet and husband, Zach, Ava Hauser, Jonathan Holkum and wife, Ashley; great-grandchildren, Kalyssa Rude and boyfriend, Nicholas Knutson, Kennedy Rude, Hadley Holkum, Holt Mosher, Hayden Holkum, Henley Holkum, Haze Mosher, and Porter Prophet; Donald’s siblings, Peggy Sue Holkum, Patsy Mahon, Dewey Lee II; Merna’s siblings, Dorothy Dolechek Batt and husband, Gene, Natalie Childs, Nathaniel Childs; nieces and nephews, Diane Durland, and husband, Ron, Doug Dolechek and wife, Stacy, Deborah Folk and husband, Max, Denise Schmidt, and husband, Eric, Richie and wife, Glenna Richter, Tammi Mahon, Jay Mahon, Stacy Don Holkum, Dewey L Holkum III and wife, Vicki, Larry Ring, Debbie Cope; great nieces and nephews, Megan Durland, Ashley Durland, Ryan Durland, Steffan Dolechek and wife, Halle, Grant Dolechek, Camille Dolechek, Lakin Folk, Kendall Folk, Henley Folk, Harper Folk, Maryn Schmidt, Rhett Schmidt; Crystal Canaday and husband, James, Cody Richter, Darbi Sellers and husband, Johnny, Jae Lynn Southerland and husband, Chris, Cade Elliott Holkum, Kynleigh Mae Holkum, Amanda Briscoe, Dawsen Briscoe, Sawyer Briscoe, Travis Ring and wife, Kara, Jason Cope, and wife, Jamie, Jaime Jordan and husband, Kyle; great-great nieces and nephews, Jessica Simms, Devin Simms, Bret Simms, CJ Richter, Cash Richter, Calea Mosier, Cade Mosier, Azlyn Sellers, Hadley Southerland, Hadley Ring, Harper Ring; Jacie Cope, Isla Jordan, Arlo Jordan; cousin, Bill Minix and wife, Lisa along with their children Tarrah Williams and husband, Steve (children: Alecia and Jesse) Rachana Brown and husband, Jason (children: Camdyn and Talan); numerous other friends and family members.

They are preceded in death by Donald’s parents, Dewey Holkum Sr, and Florence Holkum; Merna’s parents, Emil and Ruth Dietz; daughter-in-law, Michelle Holkum; Donald’s brother, Dewey Holkum Jr.; Donald’s sister, Francie Rose; Merna’s brother, Eugene H. Dietz; brother-in-law, JD Mahon; nephews, Jimmy Dietz and Rusty Richter; niece, Connie Ring.

Donald and Merna’s lives will be celebrated with funeral services at 2:00p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at Resthaven Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Arlington Memory Gardens. Viewing will be from 5:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. on Friday, May 19, 2023 at Resthaven Funeral Home.

To view a livestream of the funeral services, copy/paste the following link in to a separate browser: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY4NDUyMzUxMDI1MjE3OSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==