Herbert Holste

Herbert Frederick Holste, age 95, of Ludell, Kansas, was called to his heavenly home on July 26, 2020. He was born on December 1, 1924, at the Holste farm northeast of Ludell, the son of Herman and Mary Hoffbauer Holste.

God clothed Herbert with the righteousness of Christ when he was baptized on December 14, 1924 at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Ludell by the Rev. Paul Strege. The Holy Spirit kept Herbert in the Christian faith as he was confirmed on April 10, 1938 at Immanuel, and as his membership moved to Grace Lutheran Church and then to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Atwood. He served in numerous capacities in this time frame, including church council secretary and trustee. Attending church was important to Herb, and when he was no longer able to be present physically, he would still worship through technology.

Herbert attended Immanuel Lutheran School for his elementary education. He graduated from Atwood High School in 1942. He worked on the family farm at Ludell until 1950 when he joined the Army. Trained in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he went on to serve his country in the Korean War repairing radios in Babenhausen, Germany. He returned to Ludell following his two years of service and began farming and eventually dairying with his brother Gerhard and family under the Holste Brothers partnership. Following Gerhard’s retirement from farming, Herb continued to dairy and farm with nephew Harlan and family. He retired in 1993 but remained living at his home in Ludell until his move to the Good Samaritan in Atwood in 2018.

As the eighth of eleven children, Herb enjoyed his family immensely. He was close with his brothers, sisters, and their spouses, some who lived locally, and others who resided in distant states. He especially enjoyed extended summer visits from his brother Bob, and wife Betty, and his brother Herman, and wife Barb. He was blessed with 34 nieces and nephews who would keep in touch through mail or visits while in the area.

Herb enjoyed traveling and was able to travel both throughout the states and into Europe and the Holy Lands. He once noted that one of his favorite trips was to Germany. As a single man, his travel companions included Johnny Dunker and Edwin Reuber as well as family members.

Herb served in his community as a member of the COOP board and he spent more than 50 years on the Board of the Farmers State Bank. He also served as a Rawlins County Fair Board member.

His hobbies included photography and woodworking. In his earlier years he loved creating slides of vacations and family events. As an accomplished woodworker, he built numerous pieces of furniture for his own use and the enjoyment of others. A particularly rewarding project was assisting with the altar, baptismal font, and communion rail which are in use at Redeemer today. He was a ready volunteer for Laborers for Christ when the educational wing was added to Redeemer.

Herb enjoyed sports. As a young adult, he played softball on the Ludell team. Later, he followed the Atwood Buffaloes and the K-State Wildcats. He would often be found in the stands at the high school on Friday evenings watching the football or basketball games. It was especially important to him to attend a sporting event if a niece or nephew or great-niece or nephew were participating. On autumn Saturdays, Herb could be found faithfully watching Wildcat football from his recliner and was always ready to talk about the ups and downs of the game.

Herbert was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, John, Clifton, Gerhard, Arthur, and Herman; sisters, Laurine Holste, Dorothy Lewis, Edith Wasserman, and MaryAnn Oelke; brothers-in-law, Jack Lewis and Gilbert Wasserman; sisters-in-law, Velma Holste, Irene Holste, Lorna Holste, and Doris Holste; nephew Duane Oelke; niece Traci Schmitt; nephew-in-law Butch Schartz; great-nephew Jonathan Ruda, and great-great nephews, Easton Holste and Daxton Willard. He is survived by brother Bob Holste and wife Betty, of Oviedo, Florida; brother-in-law Paul Oelke, of Hoxie, and sister-in-law Barbara Holste, of Auburn Hills, Michigan; as well as 32 nieces and nephews, 72 great-nieces and nephews, and many great-great nieces and nephews.

Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 30, 2020, at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. Funeral Service is 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2020, at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Atwood, with burial in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Ludell. Memorials are suggested to Lutherans For Life or Jayhawk Theater and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com