Mildred Elizabeth Holden of El Dorado passed away on her 97th birthday, June 10, 2017, in San Antonio, TX, surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be held at Carlson Funeral Home on Friday, June 23, 2017, from 5 pm -7 pm. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2017, at 10:30 am at Carlson Funeral Home led by Pastor Stan Seymour. Burial will follow at Walnut Valley Memorial Park.

Mildred was born in Bronston, KY, on June 10, 1920, to Fred and Elizabeth (Mercer) Frogge. She was born in the Mercer house that later became the Raintree Inn and served as one of the sets for the Elizabeth Taylor movie “Raintree County”. Her family moved to KS in the mid-1920s and she grew up in the Flint Hills near Reece. In1933, her father married Amelia Berg and Mildred was blessed to have a loving and supportive second mother in her life. Mildred attended El Dorado High School, graduating a year early with the class of 1937 and went on to attend KSU, majoring in home economics and Romance languages.

In 1953, she married Harvey R. Holden in Bartlesville, OK. They were married for 57 happy years and raised three daughters: Jeannie, Beth and Ame. Harvey died in 2010.

For more than 30 years, Mildred was a successful business woman who owned and operated Holden Retail Liquor Store in El Dorado. She served as a Girl Scout Leader for several troops and was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the First Christian Church Ladies Circle. She was an avid bowler and bridge player. She loved music, everything from The Weasels to Glenn Miller, and was an accomplished pianist who could play any song by ear. Mildred and Harvey were members of the Chelsea Square Dance Club and also enjoyed taking community education courses at Butler Community College. Mildred was an excellent cook who never needed a written recipe and her dishes were always favorites at family gatherings and community events. After retiring, she enjoyed traveling in the USA and especially long car rides through her beloved Flint Hills. She loved living on her farm, gardening and caring for her “pet” wild birds. She enjoyed puzzles and board games and never met a NY Times crossword puzzle she couldn't solve. More than anything, family and friends were Mildred’s passion and delight-she was the world’s best mom and grandma!

Survivors include: daughters Jeannie (Amster) Howard of Lakewood, CO; Beth McKeithan of San Antonio, TX; Ame Holden ( Steven Cox) of Oceanside, CA; sister Virginia (Kay) Brown of Beaumont, TX; grandchildren Kevin Rino (Jess Tracy) and Milise Rino of Denver, CO; several nieces, nephews and close friends. We will all miss her deeply.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Harvey; and her brother Stanley Frogge.

Her daughters wish to express their gratitude to all of Mildred’s friends, neighbors, and family, too numerous to name, for looking out for Mom and making it possible for her to live as long as possible on her farm.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials in her memory for the Butler Community College Foundation Harvey and Mildred Holden Memorial Scholarship. These may be left with Carlson Funeral Home.

Condolences to the family can be sent to www.carlsonkirbymorris.com

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