Aloysius A. “Allie” Holthaus, 85, of Seneca, KS, a retired farmer and rancher, died Saturday, March 4, 2006, at Crestview Manor care home in Seneca.

He was born August 8, 1920, on a farm northwest of Kelly, the son of Frederic and Johanna Sudbeck Holthaus. When he was seven, the family relocated to a farm northwest of St. Benedict where he grew up and resided until he entered the care home in 2002 due to advancing Alzheimer’s disease. He graduated from St. Benedict High School in 1939, worked as a carpenter a short time while starting his lifelong occupation as a farmer/rancher. He served in the U.S. Army 800th Military Police Battalion during the Japan occupation from 1946 to 1947.

On June 17, 1948, he married Martha A. Heiman at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. She preceded him in death on June 4, 1986. In 1989 he married Hazel Jenkins; they later divorced.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict, where he sang in the church choir. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1769 and the Earle W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion, both in Seneca. Allie enjoyed his family and the outdoors, playing cards, fishing, and taking care of his livestock.

Survivors are two sons, Roger and Arlyn, both of rural Seneca; two daughters, Nelda Floersch of Clay Center and Ardyce Potter of Auburn; three sisters, Ida Olberding of Seneca, Henrietta Koch of Axtell, and Frances Broxterman of Chicago Heights, IL; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandsons.

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by six brothers, Alphonse, Edwin, Carl, Raymond, Lawrence, and Fred Holthaus; and two sisters, Mary Holthaus and Bertha Weber.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 AM Tuesday at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Monday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for St. Mary’s Cemetery, and sent in care of the family.