Millie Holaday

Mildred (Millie) Mae (nee Mann) Holaday, aged 90 years, died on April 14, 2026 at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa where she had lived since 2018. She was surrounded by the loving presence of her family when she passed.

Millie was born in January, 1936 in Griswold, Iowa to her parents William Oscar Mann and Gyreta Grace (nee Schoonover) Mann. Millie was chosen the salutatorian of her graduating class in Griswold. She married Henry George Holaday of Massena, Iowa in January, 1952 in Griswold, Iowa at the Church of Christ and resided with Millie's parents until they moved to a farm south of Anita, near Henry's parents, and which they later purchased and farmed. In 1972 Millie and Hank were named Farm Family of the Year for Cass County.

Farm life was difficult for a "town-girl." Millie had been raised in the small town of Griswold, but as a young mother with 4 daughters born within 5 years, she was kept busy. Millie enjoyed sewing the clothes and dressing her daughters in beautiful dresses and casual summer outfits. Weekly grocery shopping in Anita supported the local community, interspersed with occasional trips to Omaha or Des Moines for special purchases and visits with family members residing in those cities.

Millie, who was raised in the Church of Christ of Griswold, and Henry, after marriage, were members of the Pine Grove Methodist Church located in the farmcountry between Massena and Anita before later moving into Anita and joining the United Methodist Church on Main Street.

For a time, Millie worked in a downtown Café in Anita in order to keep busy after the daughters all moved out of the house. Meeting her neighbors at the café, at the church, or on her daily walks was a source of pleasure for her. Millie continually improved herself, even attending Northwest Missouri State University for a year of classes. She enjoyed all kinds of reading and studying the Bible at the United Methodist Women's group in Anita. A favorite pastime was swing dancing with Hank at local events like the annual Anita Summer Celebration in the City Park, or square dancing at the Mehlmann's Lil Red Barn outside of Anita. After retirement, Hank and Millie spent winters in Apache Junction, Arizona, until health issues prevented further travel.

Millie was preceded in death by her husband Henry in 2018; her parents listed above; her brother, Doren Dean of Wyoming; sisters, Dorothy McCue of Auburn, Nebr., Myrtle (Penny) Olson of Benson, Minn., Donna Gallup of Omaha, Nebr. and Edith Petty of Atlantic, Iowa.

She is survived by her daughters, Katherine "Kathie" (husband Greg) Bergman of Columbia, Mo., Connie Dixon (husband Ross) of Excelsior Springs, Mo., Carol (husband Gordon Lukes) Cole of Eagle, Nebr. and Leann (husband Lou) Tiner of North Richland Hills, Texas. Her grandchildren are John Reed, Kyle Bergman, Elena Lambert, Carissa Dixon, Justin Dixon, Heather Sloan, Sara Revord, Shannon ‘Mykel’ Gittinger, Seth Revord, Robert Tiner, Jenny Tiner, Melody Wheeler, and Keith Tiner. She is also survived by numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

The family especially thanks the staff of Heritage House of Atlantic and Hospice of the Midwest for their many kindnesses over the years and in Millie's last weeks.

The family invites friends and relatives to join them Saturday, April 18, 11:30 a.m., at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic for a Visitation Luncheon. Funeral services will follow beginning at 1:30 p.m., at Roland Funeral Home. Guests may then join the procession to the interment at Evergreen Cemetery in Anita.

Memorials may be made to the family for later designation to St. Jude’s Hospital.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Millie’s family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.