Mabel J. Holbrook, age 90, passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at Ava's House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Mabel Josephine Holbrook was born September 1, 1934 to Harold and Irene Brewer in Sioux Falls, SD where she grew up as a middle child with four sisters and a brother.

She was united in marriage on September 6, 1952 to Merrell Leroy Holbrook, just 5 days after her 18th birthday. The couple made their home in Sioux Falls where they raised 8 children. Mabel and Merrell opened their home and were so very important to many other children including nieces and nephews as well as foreign exchange students who spent a portion of their lives with the growing family. Their home was filled with love and always filled with many happy souls.

Mabel had several jobs during her many decades of work life, but perhaps her most valued was that of managing the Salvation Army Thrift Store on North Main Avenue during the late 1970's to early 1980's. Several years after the last of her 8 children graduated high school, Mabel pursued a dream and successfully completed her GED of which she was extremely proud.

Mabel is a lifelong member of the Salvation Army Church participating in the many activities of the organization and shared her love of God with literally hundreds of people over the years including her husband, children and extended family as well as numerous friends. She was a proud, strong solider in God's Army sharing her faith with so many. As she grew older, her circle of friends at the Army became the core of her social being and she often talked about those friends at the Church as family because they were family.

Mabel is survived by her sister, Lorraine (George) Breen of Baltic; her children: Deborah (Mike) Lichtenberg of Tea, and Merrell L. Holbrook, Jr. of Dell Rapids, Karen Pitts of Sioux Falls, Leanna Tuttle of Sioux Falls, James (Inge) Holbrook of Manhattan, KS, Richard Holbrook of Sioux Falls, and Ronda (Jim) Minck of Lennox; her son-in-law Larry Sistanich; as well as her 21 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Merrell; her parents, Harold and Irene Brewer; her daughter Rose (Larry) Sistanich; her sisters, Maxine (Cliff) Miller, Betty (Gene) Campbell, and Luetta Feekes; her brother Leroy (Pat) Brewer; a son-in-law Spencer Pitts; and a very special great-grandson Nero James Tuttle.

A service to celebrate her life will be held on Friday, April 11, 2:00 pm at The Salvation Army, 800 North Cliff Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD  57103.  The Family invites you to join them in this Celebration of Life with fellowship to follow.