Mass of Christian Burial for Leo Holzer, 98, of Mobridge will be at 10 AM, Friday, May 15, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mobridge. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Leo passed away Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Center in New Underwood, SD.

Leo Holzer was born on December 9, 1927, in Timber Lake SD, to Anton and Clara (Schmidt) Holzer. He was the 5th of 9 children in his family. His family moved to Trail City, where he attended a country school. He worked in his father’s gas business when he finished school. Leo was drafted into the army, and served as a Corporal during the Korean War era, from 1950-1952. He spent time in England during his service, building air strips and was also a driver for an army officer.

When Leo returned home, he married the girl he had met at a dance before leaving for his army service. He and Rose Ann Hummel were wed on November 18, 1952, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Glencross, SD, and had 70 married years together. They lived with Leo’s parents a short time in Linton, ND, before moving to Mobridge, SD, where they made their home for many years, and raised their 5 children. Leo worked driving delivery trucks for Nash Finch and Sweet Heart Baking company for a few years. He then began working for Interstate Beverage Company where he initially did beer deliveries, and eventually did office management, and he remained there until he retired. Leo and Rose moved to Pierre, SD, in 2020, due to health issues and resided there until Rose passed away. Leo then moved to Rapid City in 2023 to an assisted living facility, and then to a nursing home, where he was at the time of his death.

Leo liked to hunt deer. When he was a young man, he began a years long, annual tradition of camping and hunting deer in the Black Hills. It started with some of his cousins, and progressed to taking his sons and even some of his grandsons. Many great stories were told of the hunting adventures they had every fall. Leo also liked to fish, and spent many summer days on the river in search of Walleye.

Another of Leo’s hobbies was butchering. Processing his deer progressed to processing beef and pork for family and friends. He and his good friend, Larry Seftner, set up an old mobile home turned butcher shop, that was affectionately named “The L & L Butcher Shop.” Leo was always the head butcher! Many great family memories were made there. In addition to the good meats Leo produced, he was also known for his skill of making “Red Eye!” Leo had many requests for it and it has always shown up at most family gatherings.

Leo was a die hard Twins Baseball fan, and in his later years he spent a lot of time watching them play. Leo and Rose were both most happy, however, when their big family was all together for celebrations. They will both be remembered and missed at all the family events to come.

Leo’s remaining children are Richard (Bernadette) Holzer, Douglas (Char) Holzer, Mark (Dena) Holzer, Deborah Holland, and David Holzer. His grandchildren are Shawn (Kristen) Holzer, Amy Wieland, Chrissie (Eric) Magness, Ian (Angela) Holzer, Matthew Holzer, Tiffany Holzer, Aaron (Brittany) Holzer, Kaylee (Shawn) Hagen, Logan (Carlee) McIntosh, Brent Holland, Andrew Holland, Tucker Holzer. His sisters, Clarissa Klein and Charmaine Mosset. He has several great-grand children as well.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Rose Ann Holzer, grand daughter Emily Holzer, son-in-law Mikel Holland, and daughter-in-law Belinda Holzer and brothers and sisters.