Roger Holtzmann

Roger Holtzmann, age 70 of Yankton, South Dakota, died at his home on Friday, March 13, 2026.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Yankton, South Dakota with Reverend Bob Lacey officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Yankton. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, March 20, 2026, at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with a rosary and vigil service at 7:00 PM.

Roger was born on May 15, 1955, at Marty, South Dakota. He was the fifth of nine children born to Alice Marie (McCaffery) and Alphonse Joseph Holtzmann Jr. When he was two years old, Roger’s family relocated to Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, where his family worked and lived on the Spirit Lake Reservation, home to St. Michael’s Mission. He graduated high school in Milbank, South Dakota after the family relocated there, but throughout his life, when his thoughts returned home, it was always to St. Michael’s.

In 1973, Roger enlisted in the Coast Guard where he trained as an electronics technician and served at various duty stations including Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean during the Vietnam War. After his service, he attended Mount Marty College where he met Carolyn Faltin, his future wife. Seven years later, on August 11, 1984, Roger and Carolyn were married at her home parish of St. Wenceslaus in Dodge, Nebraska.

Roger and Carolyn moved to Yankton where for six years, Roger worked the night shift at the Human Services Center, a job that he truly enjoyed. He and Carolyn later bought Pretty As A Picture, a framing shop in downtown Yankton.

In 1987, Roger and Carolyn bought a run-down house on the west side of Yankton and spent the next decades bringing it to life. With each new project, Roger planned and guided the remodeling process and Carolyn interpreted his vision. Bit by bit and room by room, with Roger’s insight and Carolyn’s hands, together they turned the house into a home where they raised their three daughters, Katherine (Hunter), Marie (Dahlberg), and Sophie Holtzmann.

In 1990, he joined the staff of South Dakota Magazine. His long running humor column, Seriously, Folks, was a source of immense personal satisfaction to him. His wit and sometimes cynical outlook on life brought joy to many readers. He continued to contribute articles until the last year of his life.

At age 37, Roger was diagnosed with Lyme’s Disease which left him paralyzed for the rest of his life. As a result, he faced daily challenges and frustrations, endured many surgeries, and experienced countless hospitalizations. Despite the severity of his condition, he chose to keep writing, reading, and learning.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and their family. He will be greatly missed by many relatives and friends, who will always remember him for his courageous perseverance despite adversity.