Arlene Marie Holcomb

Arlene Holcomb passed away on June 27, 2018 in Escondido, CA.  She is survived by her three children Mark, Tana and David, seven grandkids and her youngest sister Betty.   

Arlene was born Nov 14, 1927 to Adolph and Stella (Voss) Bausch on a farm east of New Underwood, South Dakota during a snowstorm.  She was Valedictorian of her 1945 New Underwood High School class, and graduated from National Business College in Rapid City.  She then worked for Allied Van Lines as receptionist and dispatcher, and set up and managed an office for the Balbach company.   During this time she met her sailor, Edward Holcomb, whom she married in 1954.  They were stationed in Washington DC, Hawaii, Oregon, California, New Mexico, Thailand, Oklahoma, and finally returned to Rapid City when Edward retired from the Navy. 

With her sister Betty, she started Forever Yours Originals to sell gifts in the Black Hills and silk flowers for weddings, eventually expanding it into a full service bridal shop—Forever Yours Bridal Village.  After selling the business, Ed and Arlene purchased a 5th wheel RV and became snowbirds.  Eventually they found a place in Benson, Arizona with a view of the Chiricahua Mountains and became sunbirds.   

During her retirement, she enjoyed photography, and was superintendent of the photography division at the Central States fair for many years.   After Edward passed away, she spent her last 6 years in Escondido, CA where she could be close to family.   Her ashes will be interred with Edward’s in the Black Hills National Cemetery where she will be celebrated for a life well lived.

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