Leland S. “Lee” Holt was born Feb. 24, 1919, on the family farm in Oak Harbor. Lee was the youngest of eight children. Lee’s grandfather came from Minnesota to Oak Harbor in 1900. His father and mother purchased 40 acres of the Wallace Donation Claim in Crescent Harbor and began clearing the land. They built their first home on that land in 1905 and established the first foundry for Oak Harbor.

Lee was born and lived all his life in the home his father first built. The original home was three rooms on a single floor. As time went on the original roof was pulled and a second story was added on to the house to accommodate a growing family.

Lee met Cecilia Starks, from Coupeville, at a dance on New Year’s Eve. On July 11, 1948, six months after they met, Lee and Cecilia were married in Coupeville. They moved to the farm on Crescent Harbor Road, where Cecilia became a true farmer’s wife.

Lee took over the operation of the family farm in 1942. He and Cecilia operated a dairy from 1948 to 1973 and also raised turkeys and chickens until the mid ‘50s. When their three sons left home, Lee discontinued the dairy but continued to raise beef cattle and hay over the years.

In the early 1960s, Lee attended college classes, learning carpentry and construction. He went to work for Everett Brothers Construction Company where he was a carpenter during the construction of Capehart Housing on Crescent Harbor and Maylor’s Point. Twenty years later, Lee retired from Everett Brothers.

Lee was a lifetime member of Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge 291 and a member of the Oak Leaf Rebekah Lodge 254, both of Oak Harbor. He also enjoyed fishing, camping and deer hunting. He and Cecilia were also longtime active members of the Whidbey Vagabonds Travel Club with the Oak Harbor Senior Center.

Lee is survived by his wife Cecilia at the family home; by three sons and their spouses, Don and Linda Holt of Kent, Harry and Jean Holt of Palmer, Alaska and Richard “Rick” and Barbara Holt of Kent; along with seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His seven brothers and sisters, Bob, Mildred, Edith, Gladys, Gertrude, Thelma and Arlie, preceded him in death.

Memorial services for Lee Holt will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 19, at Burley Funeral Chapel with Pastor Ron Eerkes of New Covenant Fellowship officiating. Cremation was held with a private family burial. A reception for family and friends will follow at the Odd fellows Hall at 3 p.m.