Dean Holt

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Dean Robert Holt, returned to his heavenly home on Friday, May 8, 2020 at age 84.

Dean was born on June 14, 1935 in Riverside California and is the youngest son of Roy Edgar Holt and Edith Alice Glasgow. He grew up on an orange grove in southern California and was very active in sports, including basketball, football, handball and tennis. Dean particularly excelled at track events, winning blue ribbons in the 50-year dash, standing broad jump, high jump and relay race (which he anchored). At a relatively young age, Dean developed a passion for cars in part by driving around his family’s 10-acre orange grove. He built and raced his own soapbox cars and raced in and won many soapbox derbies.

At the age of twelve Dean, along with his mother, was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This marked the beginning of a lifelong devotion to Jesus Christ and service to his family and countless others. Dean also demonstrated his religious commitment by serving a two-and-a-half year, full-time mission to the Central America Mission which covered Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. He loved the Hispanic people and embraced their culture and became fluent in the Spanish language.

Prior to serving his mission, Dean attending Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Upon his return, Dean made his way to Las Vegas where his parents had relocated. While there, he joined the Army National Guard, serving for six years. It was in Las Vegas that Dean’s skill for auto racing really flourished by winning many trophies in his Austin Healey racer in drag, Jim Cannon and road racing events. He was a resident of Las Vegas for sixty-five years (1954-2019) and made his mark on the city’s growth as a landowner/developer, including starting the first auto wrecking yard in southern Nevada and developing land in North Las Vegas.

It was in Las Vegas that Dean met and courted Marjorie Draper, and they were married in the Los Angeles Temple on February 7, 1963. Dean was immediately taken by Margie’s spunk and kindness to all, and it was a lifelong romance. Their marriage was blessed with five children and they raised their family in Las Vegas.

Dean was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served in two bishoprics, as a high councilor and in many other Church positions. He also served as an ordained temple worker in the Las Vegas Temple for many years.

Dean will be remembered as someone who was a friend to everyone. He had an uncanny ability to build instant trust with complete strangers through his quick wit and generosity.

Dean is survived by his sweetheart of fifty-seven years Marjorie Sarah Draper, four children, Lori Ann Pate (Ray), Larry Robert Holt, Michelle Cheri Kendall (Brad) and Michael Dean Holt (Tracy). Twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren were blessed to be born during his lifetime and brought great joy to him. Dean was preceded in death by his parents, his first son Troy, his brother Vernon and his sister Margaret.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2020 from 10:00-11:30am at the La Verkin 6th Ward meetinghouse at 481 North Main Street in La Verkin, Utah. A graveside service will be held in the Toquerville Cemetery that same day at 12 noon.