Tamara Holtquist

Tamara Ann Holtquist was born Nov. 1, 1962, in Elbow Lake, Minn., to Dennis McKeehan and Clarice Larson.
She spent many years dedicating her life to raising her children. She had also worked as a CNA in nursing homes serving the elderly, had managed a restaurant in Custer and was a waitress. Tammie spent the remainder of her working years as a self-employed housekeeper cleaning vacation rentals in the Northern Black Hills.
Tammie spent her life committing herself to the service of others in multiple capacities. Tammie loved deeply and true. Tammie found joy in making other people laugh and making sure people were taken care of. She was an avid cook and she loved to bake.
Tammie’s greatest love was her family. Her life’s happiness was found when her family was together playing games, eating home cooked meals together and reminiscing about stories from her growing up and her kids’ experiences growing up too.
Tammie was a selfless woman. In her leisure time she enjoyed many activities. She loved to be in the great outdoors and was the absolute queen of campout cooking. If you ever needed anything, this woman had you covered.
Tammie was very skilled at crocheting. The quilts she made over the years are truly a symbol of her patience, talent and dedication to bringing a smile to someone’s face. She loved to read and learn new things and was a skilled writer from a young age.
Tammie loved taking care of plants and planting flowers. She could troubleshoot just about any struggling greenery. Tammie had a secret skill at roller skating. She surprised us all skating literal circles around us at a birthday party in Custer a few years back. She had a fun way of always keeping you on your toes.
Tammie loved music and had a special affinity for live shows. She loved riding on motorcycles and the energy of the Sturgis Rally. She felt most alive on the back of a Harley with the wind in her face.
Tammie was adventurous and had a free spirit that she enjoyed letting out whenever she had the opportunity. She was game for spontaneous excursions through the Hills, any road trip leading to new memories, girls’ campout weekends with her friends and anything that meant traveling.
Tammie loved to be wild and free. Tammie was a force in her life, and in the lives of others. She was influential, kind, fiery, humorous, smart, strong and compassionate. She left an impression on every person who became a part of her life, no matter the duration of the interactions.
Tammie and her illuminating smile will be deeply missed. May Tammie rest in peace in Heaven, with those that have passed before her, and may she someday be reunited with all of her beloved family members she devoted her life to.
Tammie, of Custer, S.D., passed away Dec. 22, 2022, at Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, S.D. She was 60.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Edna Lucine Bendt Larson; husband, Ralph Richard Holtquist; father Dennis McKeehan; and son, Shane Micheal Holtquist.
Tammie is survived by her mother, Clarice Ann Larson of Custer; sons, Jeremiah Richard Holtquist of Custer, Zachariah Clarence (Christina) Holtquist of Seminole, Fla., and his children Harper, Sebastian and Hailey Holtquist and Joshua Carl (Laney) Holtquist of Rapid City, and his children Ethan and Natalie Holtquist; daughters, Meghan Lucine Holtquist (Kurt) of Custer and son Aiden Pickett, Audra Lynn Holtquist of Spearfish, S.D., and children Carter, Magnus and Dahlia; and Ashley Denise Holtquist (Joey) of Spearfish; deceased son Shane Micheal Holtquist’s children, Chantel and Laryssa; sister, Teresa Smude of Minnesota; brother, David John McKeehan; relative, Daniel Ralph (Leeann) Holtquist of Custer and his children Eric, Summer, Xavier, Lilly and Brooklyn Holtquist; and relative Traci Lea (Jerrell) Cummings of Arkansas, and her children, Kaitlyn, McKenzie and Kane Cummings.
A memorial will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday Jan. 7, at Chamberlain-McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer with Reverend Pam Power leading prayer and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Arrangements have been placed under the local care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.