Known to his friends and family as Todd, he passed away at his home in Winnemucca, NV on August 14, 2022, due to sudden heart failure.
He was born January 31, 1969 in Missoula, MT. He attended Target Range Elementary, where he made lifelong friends and Loyola Sacred Heart High School.
He then joined the army where he attended basic training and advanced training at Fort Sill Oklahoma.
Trained as a forward observer for the artillery he was then attached to the Wolfhounds, an infantry outfit in California. He attended college at Montana State University and earned a Bachelor of Secondary Education with science as his specialty.
During his college years he worked summers for the State of Montana DNRC fighting fire, stationed at the Stillwater Station.
He was also part of a hot shot crew for the USFS.
When it came time for his student teaching he was able to get into a program that sent him to Bathurst, Australia. While there, he had many wonderful adventures including diving on the Great Barrier Reef.
After graduating from college he taught for the Humboldt School District in Winnemucca and McDermitt, NV and retired after 25 years of service.
While still teaching he pursued and earned his Master of Natural Resources Stewardship in 2012 from Colorado State University.
During his summers in Nevada he worked fighting fires for the BLM, where he made many friends and was awarded Employee of the Year in 2002.
Todd was a “social animal”. He loved people and would much rather spend time talking to find out someone’s story than almost any other activity.
He was a throwback of sorts; he had a great love of music, especially old rock and roll, and enjoyed listening to them on his extensive vinyl collection. He purchased an old ’56 Chevy in high school and spent many years having it restored like new.
He still has that old Chevy and he wouldn’t pass up a chance to take someone out to ice cream in it.
He enjoyed karaoke and entertaining people with his humor and antics. Todd was the life of the party and always made a memorable guest. He was gifted in making others smile.
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm up your face.
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again.
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends. He left us far too soon, but we are all better people for knowing the great Todd Holden.
He was preceded in death by his brother Casey Holden, grandparents, Jim and Catherine Murrish, Charles and Nora Holden and his uncle Bob Holden.
He is survived by his parents, David and Kathy; his sister Meredith (Matt) Pickett, his niece Olivia and nephew Carter. Uncles Steve (Diane) Holden, and Jerry Murrish; aunts Margaret Erickson and Kathleen Holden; numerous cousins and their children in his extended family; as well as his “brothers” from elementary school and his “family” in Winnemucca.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to the Loyola Sacred Heart Foundation where a scholarship has been established in his brother, Casey Holden’s, name.
Graveside services will take place August 26th at 10:30am sharp, with Military Honors at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery, 1911 Tower St.
Reception will follow at the Orchard Homes Country Life Club, 2537 S 3rd St W, where we will share eulogies, slide show, food, drinks, stories and laughs.
“If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live on after he’s dead, then maybe he was a great man.” –James Dean
