Juanita May Holst

Juanita Mae Holst traded in her tired mortal existence for a joyous eternal one on March 5, 2025. She
was our hand holding, back scratching, arm patting, squeezy hugging, fiercely loving matriarch. One of
her favorite sayings was, “Come feed my hungry arms.” She loved to say it, and we loved to oblige.
Throughout the course of her 91 years on this earth, her gentle hands soothed countless wounds, both
physical and otherwise. She viewed her position as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother as a
sacred calling. As such, she felt it was a privilege and honor to love and care for her posterity with the
utmost devotion. It was this same devotion that caused her to worry about leaving her loved ones
behind. After some deeply touching conversations, she assured us that she would do everything in her
power to watch over us from the other side of the veil. I don’t doubt that we are now blessed with one
of the mightiest guardian angels Heaven has to offer.
Juanita did not have the easiest start to life, but her early struggles shaped her into a strong and
resourceful woman. She was born on September 29, 1933 in Oklahoma, during the height of the Great
Depression. She was the oldest child and only daughter of Joe and Pearl Hopkins, and the revered big
sister of her five younger brothers. Her father was often gone for long stretches of time, seeking
employment to provide for his young family. They often didn’t have enough food to eat, but Juanita’s
mom did everything in her power to care for her little flock. She taught her children how to forage for
anything edible they could find in the woods. In addition, her mother would somehow procure a few
sweet potatoes for her children to share each night. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to fill and warm
their tummies before bed. Juanita recounted often that these sweet potatoes became a cherished
childhood memory, for they were a symbol of her mother’s love. Juanita deeply admired her mother’s
ability to turn their trials into “adventures”, and she strived to emulate her mother’s positive attitude
throughout her own life.
Because space is short and relationships are complicated, we will suffice it to say that Juanita was
married three times during her earthly sojourn; to Joe Rider, Dan Holst, and Calvin Moore. Joe and
Juanita were married almost 40 years, and together they welcomed Doug and Dana to their family.
Juanita thrived on being a mother; these two children meant the world to her. Together with their
children, Joe and Juanita created the “Double JD Ranch” in Roll, Arizona. Juanita was instrumental in
keeping their farming and ranching endeavors running smoothly. She cherished their western way of
life, and enjoyed riding and barrel racing. Since she loved to challenge herself and learn new things, she
also learned how to ride English and perform in show jumping. She sought opportunities to combine
her love of her children and her love of horses. She excelled as a 4H horse leader, and she founded and
rode in a drill team that went on to perform at the Yuma Jaycees Silver Spur Rodeo.
Juanita lived various places throughout her adulthood, but always within the deserts of the Southwest.
She loved to travel and experience the beauty of the world, but the desert was home. She loved its
rugged beauty and resilient creatures. She was keenly observant, and she had a knack for seeing the
beauty where others might overlook it. This special gift of hers helped her develop into quite the
talented amateur photographer and painter. The desert, of course, was her favorite source of
inspiration. She loved to watch the morning sun stretch its pink fingers across the eastern sky from the
vantage point of her back deck. From this same deck, she would watch the sun’s fiery descent, until the
vibrant colors slowly gave way to a thick blanket of stars. She loved the smell of the desert after rain,

and the cascades of wildflowers down the hillsides. She loved seeing a line of baby quail trailing after
their parents, or watching lizards doing pushups in the summer sun. She loved the yellow blossoms of
the palo verde trees and the haunting coos of the mourning doves. She found beauty everywhere she
looked.
Juanita’s ability to find the oft-overlooked beauty in life extended well beyond the natural world around
her. Most importantly, she found the beauty in others. She had the uncanny ability to look into a
person’s soul and peel back their self-imposed protective layers. She could see in others what they
often couldn’t yet see in themselves. No matter the person, she always saw the essence of who they
really were; a beloved son or daughter of Heavenly parents. What a remarkable gift; to see the
potential for good in others and help draw it out!
Juanita was our biggest cheerleader. She thought her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren
were the best and the brightest human beings to ever walk the face of the earth. While she may have
been slightly biased, she certainly helped everyone feel loved, special, and capable. One cannot
experience this kind of love and remain unaffected. This is the kind of love that feeds something deep
within our souls. This love cements itself into every fiber of our being, and is subsequently passed on to
our own posterity. Of all the things she was and is, this love is her legacy.
During the last few decades of her life, Juanita also came to know and love her Savior, Jesus Christ. She
was eternally grateful for His atoning sacrifice and His infinite goodness. She spoke of Him constantly.
Her greatest wish was that her family would all come to know Him and love Him the same way. Along
with being welcomed home into the loving arms of her Savior, Juanita was greeted by one heck of a
welcoming committee by those that preceded her into Heaven. What a glorious reunion that was, with
her parents, her beloved son, her grandson, her baby brother, and many other dear loved ones. I know
that when it’s our time to join her, she will be right there waiting to fling her arms around us and
squeeze us with all her might!
All friends and family are invited to join us to celebrate Juanita’s life on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at
11am. Services will be held at the Wellton Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
located at 8824 Ave 36E Wellton AZ 85356.
In honor of Juanita, please hug your loved ones just a little tighter today.

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