Robert L. Holyoak of Rapid City
Born January 17, 1937 – Died October 13, 2024, at Fort Meade surrounded by his family and angels.
Better known as Bob, he was born in Cedar City, Utah to James LaNore and Alta Whittaker Lewis Holyoak. He spent his early years in Paragonah, and then Lund, Utah where his parents ran the post office and store across the street from the train station. Lund was a bustling railroad stop that functioned as a hub for tourists catching buses to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. As soon as he could see over the top of the table, Bob learned to shoot pool on the billiard tables found at the back of the store. His small stature and twinkling blue eyes tricked many into underestimating his abilities and that was a lesson you only learned once.
Bob attended first through sixth grade in a one room schoolhouse in Lund, Utah. He spent time catching kit foxes and would try to raise them as pets till they turned mean and left. Bob left high school early to attend telegraph school which became obsolete before he could start a career. So, he decided to go back to high school to finish his diploma. There he played football and met his sweetheart, Bonnie Bulloch. Bob graduated from Cedar City High School in 1957.
In 1958 Bob married his high school sweetheart, Bonnie in Cedar City, Utah. Soon after, he joined the Army and was selected as a team member on the U.S. All Army Rifle Team. He was based out of Washington but traveled around the world for competitions. After getting out of the Army Bob used his world class marksmanship skills on several deer and other critters during his beloved hunting trips. Many of these trips were with his brother-in-law and best friend Bob Bulloch.
After ending his Army enlistment in1962 he was looking for a new career. That is when his brother, Paul, who was working for the AirForce in Sundance, Wyoming, introduced him to Don Policky Sr. who was the owner of Big D Oil Company. Don put Bob to work managing the first Big D location in Rapid City, South Dakota. Over the next several years, Bob managed a number of Big D locations before starting Bob’s Muffler and Brake. He ran that business until his retirement in 2005. Bob always said he could hear you coming when you needed a muffler.
Bob and Bonnie raised a son and twin daughters in Rapid City. They took many trips down to Utah to visit family and created many memories on Lake Powell and up on “the mountain.” His children treasure memories of time with him at his gas station learning to work on cars or count change. He encouraged his children to get an education and work hard. He loved taking his truck out in the snow to plow and safely deliver his daughter to and from work. Most mornings you could find him at Uncle Sam’s Casino or McDonalds having breakfast with the guys.
Over the years, Bob gained a love for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As he became more actively involved, the call for him to serve in the capacity of the Bishop for the Rapid City First Ward was extended. During this time, he gained a great love for the people he served and counseled with. Many have become more like an extended family. When the LDS Temple in Bismarck, North Dakota was dedicated in 1999, his love for family history and the eternal covenants of the temple became a new focus in his life. He would regularly travel to the Bismarck Temple with his wife and dear friend, Frank Thomas, to serve in the Lord’s holy house. In 2005, after retiring, President Gordon B. Hinckley called him and his eternal companion Bonnie, to serve as president and matron of the Bismarck, North Dakota Temple. They served in that capacity for three years. Bob’s love for the temple never diminished as they continued to travel monthly to serve in the temple till his health prevented it. We are sure those he helped through his work in the temple welcomed him with open arms.
Bob loved his grandchildren. He often had several of them hanging on as he drove four wheelers around Lund or “the mountain” during their trips to southern Utah. They have fond memories of waking up to him stoking the fire in the old wood stove, which often led him to brag about the famous fire starter mix. They would begrudgingly eat his bacon which was more like a thin chewy porkchop, and he would just give them his eye twinkling smile. There were trips to McDonalds and Culvers with treasured visits over breakfast burritos and hamburgers with extra onions. He would take them swimming and on rides in his truck to turn in pop cans for cash. He always let them keep the earnings. Watching the rodeo or football also became bonding experiences. As they grew and their interest in cars blossomed, he would sit in a chair in the garage and direct them on how to fix things. He loved spending time with them. Even if it was simply sitting on the patio eating watermelon with salt, root beer floats, or ice cream treats. He encouraged education and building a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They often accompanied him and Bonnie on trips to the temple and he shared his testimony of the things of eternity. His wish to see someone from the family serve a mission came true this summer when his granddaughter Cora was called to serve. It was during her call, where she was sharing her gratitude for these memories and precious lessons of truth that he instilled, that he peacefully left this world. The love of family from both sides of the veil surrounded him as she “talked him into Heaven.”
Bob is survived by his bride of 67 years Bonnie Lou Bulloch Holyoak of Rapid City, SD; brother Paul J (Maureen) Holyoak of Cedar City, Utah; son Robert Jeffrey (Karen) Holyoak of Rapid City, South Dakota; and daughters Keri (Marc) Markham of Suffolk, VA; and Kara Holyoak of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Becky Kippes-Cavallaro (Nick Reynolds) of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Bob’s Grandchildren are Mikayla Markham (George) Boychuck, Gabriel Markham, Adeline Holyoak, Briann Holyoak, Cora Holyoak, Daisy Holyoak, Eran Holyoak, Nate Garber and Meghan Gale, and great granddaughter Alayna Boychuck. Bob was preceded in death by his father James LaNore Holyoak and his mother Alta Whittaker Lewis Holyoak, in-laws Robert W. and Lucy Bulloch, brother-in-law Robert Bulloch, and sisters-in-law Helen Bulloch Wolfe and Judy Holyoak.
There will be a viewing on Thursday, October 17 from 4 – 6 PM at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, 2700 Jackson Blvd, Rapid City, SD
Funeral services will be at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2822 Canyon Lake Dr, Rapid City, SD on Friday, October 18 at 10:30 AM. With a visitation from 9am-10am.
Interment will follow at the Black Hills National Cemetery at 1:30 PM on Friday, October 18.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Fort Meade VA Medical Center, Fort Meade, SD
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