Verdell Holt

Lois Verdell Holt, the daughter of Charles and Anna (Herem) Knudson was born May 22, 1915, in Armstrong, Iowa, and passed away May 25, 2008, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa.

She attended the Armstrong, Randall and Ellsworth School systems, summer school at the University of Iowa, and graduated from Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, with an Elementary Education Teaching Certificate in 1935.

On August 20, 1944, Verdell was united in marriage to Harl Scott Holt, Jr. Three children were born to this union.

Verdell's first teaching job was at the Swaledale Elementary School. Later teaching positions included Nora Springs, Gladbrook, and Corning, Iowa. After marriage she and her husband moved to Atlantic Iowa where she continued on as a substitute teacher in the Atlantic School system.

After her children were raised, she was employed in Atlantic as a receptionist, working for Ivan Brix, John Wise and Jane Bell in realty agencies, and for Betty Marcellus with Marcellus Insurance Agency. Verdell continued working until the age of 89 when she left her longtime Atlantic residence at 1005 Poplar Street after living there for over fifty years and "retired" at Heritage House.

Verdell was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic where she was active in United Methodist Women, Dorcas Circle, and participated in Merry Marrieds with her husband Harl. She also served as Choir Director and as a Sunday school teacher.
She was a charter member of the Cass County Hospital Auxiliary and also a member of the Priscilla Club. In partnership with her husband, Harl Holt, who directed YMCA programs throughout Western Iowa during the 50's, 60's and 70's, Verdell contributed to the development and expansion of Atlantic's YMCA and to YMCA Camp Foster in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Verdell cherished her family, her friends, her music, and the community. She had a deep and abiding spiritual faith. Those left to treasure her memory include her daughter, Jane A. Holt of Pleasant Hill, California; her sons, John F. Holt and wife, Kate, of Pella, Iowa, and Dr. Charles R. Holt of Davenport, Iowa; her grandsons, Eric Holt of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Izaac Holt of Hawaii, Daniel Gordon Holt and Benjamin Gordon Holt, both of Des Moines, Iowa; her nieces, Sheila Allen of Everett, Washington, and Pegg Bryant of Fortville, Indiana; her cousins, Elizabeth Fremming of Story City, Iowa, Darlene Diehl and Opal Knudson.

Verdell was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Anna Knudson, and her husband, Harl Scott Holt, Jr.

Visitation will be Friday, May 30, 2008, from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Hockenberry Family Care, Atlantic, Iowa.

Burial will be Saturday, May 31, 2008, at 1:00 P.M. at the Atlantic Cemetery, followed by a Memorial Service and reception beginning at 2:00 P.M. at Heritage House, 1200 Brookridge Circle, Atlantic, Iowa. All are welcome to attend both services.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nishna Valley YMCA or the First United Methodist Church, both in Atlantic.