Milford E. Holliday

October 22, 1935 - August 5, 2015

Milford E. Holliday, 79, passed away on August 5, 2015 at his home. 

Milford E. Holliday was born on October 22, 1935 in Blossburg, Pa. He and his twin sister, Betty, were born to Douglas H. Holliday and Marion E. (Munson) Holliday. 

He was raised near Wellsboro, Pa., and attended country school. The family moved to Picture Rocks, Pa., for three years and then returned to the Wellsboro area where he finished his schooling and graduated from high school in 1954. Following his graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and began his service years at Sampson AFB in New York State. He was stationed at bases in Lubbock, Texas, Denver, Colo., and Ellsworth AFB near Rapid City, with TDY’s at Merced, Calif., and Chanute AFB in Ill. His final assignment was at Westover AFB near Springfield, Mass.

During his years at Ellsworth, he met and married Lorraine Hilmer in Rapid City on October 29, 1960. Their son Russell was born at Ellsworth AFB in 1961. In 1962, he was assigned to Westover AFB, Mass., where their daughter Annette was born in 1963. Milford was honorably discharged in July of 1963 at which time the family returned to New Underwood, which was Lorraine’s home area.

Hoping to find good employment in S.D., he interviewed for a Civil Service job with the Bureau of Reclamation, Missouri/Oahe project as an Electronic Equipment Mechanic. He was given that opportunity which meant a move to Watertown, S.D., where they spent two years for his apprenticeship. After those two years, the Bureau completed the newly built substation south of New Underwood and he was offered a transfer back to New Underwood. He was the first permanent employee to be stationed at New Underwood and the last permanent one when he retired there after 30 plus years. 

In 1967-68 it was decided to build a “Capp Home” in New Underwood, a package house which was “roughed in” for them and together they tackled finishing the home doing siding, shingling and interior work of plumbing, electrical and drywall and other finishing jobs with help along the way from family and friends. When asked by Lorraine years later how he knew he could do all of those jobs himself, his reply was “I guess I didn’t know I couldn’t”. That summed up his attitude on life, and in 1973, that house was physically moved out of town and onto the ranch where Lorraine grew up.

From 1973 to present the family has lived on the ranch. Milford became ranch help while continuing to work full-time with the Bureau of Reclamation until his retirement there. Eventually becoming more fully involved with the ranch after his inlaw’s passing, he labored daily on the ranch until the date of his death. One task he disliked the most was working with all of the old barbed wire splices in the fences he had to mend and he worked on plenty of those. 

Milford’s interests in past years were flying his Rally 2B Ultralight aircraft, doing some lovely woodworking pieces including desks for each of his children in their school days and an oak corner desk for Lorraine. These items will be treasured. He could repair things that others gave up on. He also enjoyed fishing. 

Milford left us the way he liked to live his life, always busy and active to his last breath. We will miss him so much and thank God he was in our lives. 

He is survived by his wife, Lorraine; son, Russell, Rapid City; daughter, Annette Boardman (Donald), New Underwood; brother, Laverne Holliday (Katie), Wellsboro, Pa.; sister, Wanda Holliday, Hughesville, Pa.; brothers-in-law, Donald Hilmer and Paul Wilcox; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Ruth Hosterman, Kathryn Cook, Betty Bachman and Roberta Wilcox; in-laws, Bill and Jennie Hilmer; and sister-in-law, Beverly Hilmer. 

Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 11, 2015, at the Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City. Burial followed at the New Underwood Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials for the New Underwood Volunteer Fire Department and the New Underwood Cemetery Association.

The Pioneer Review

221 E. Oak Street
Philip, SD 57567
Telephone: (605) 859-2516
E Mail: ads@pioneer-review.com

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