Roll Call Tribute

Dustin Edward Holta 

February 8, 1997 - March 10, 2025 

Dustin Edward Holta passed away in Long Beach, California on March 10, 2025, from natural causes after an ongoing illness. He was 28.

Dustin was born on February 8, 1997, at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. He was raised in Peters Creek and attended Chugiak Elementary, Mirror Lake Middle School and Chugiak High. As a child he enjoyed scouting, baseball, soccer, playing Flick in a youth theater production of A Christmas Story and his science fair projects. In middle school he learned to play the baritone and acoustic/electric guitars, loving his time with the Mirror Lake Jazz and Concert Bands. High school activities included wrestling, working as a lifeguard, football and swimming. He earned the status as an All-State wrestler and especially enjoyed coaching/mentoring younger wrestlers during his years with the Chugach Eagles Wrestling Club. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 15 and encouraged his brother to complete his Eagle rank as well.

He graduated from high school with honors in 2015, and went to New Mexico State University where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, made lifelong friends, loved exploring the desert Southwest, led a competitive rocket building club and discovered his love for Rugby. After accepting a scholarship in Texas A&M's Doctorate Program he again made lifelong friends, loved attending Aggie football games at Kyle Field and continued to play Rugby at a higher level. His coach remembers him as a tenacious, hardworking natural leader who was exemplary both on and off the field.

His favorite things to do were camping, hiking, playing guitar, fishing, playing and watching sports, mountain biking, brewing beer, surfing and attending professional sporting events and concerts with his family and friends. He loved spending time in Alaska snowboarding, hiking, rafting, fishing and dipnetting with his parents and brother Tanner. A die-hard Packer Fan, he and Tanner recently fulfilled a lifelong dream of attending a winter football game together at Lambeau Field.

In 2021, he relocated to California and began working in the aerospace industry. While working at Terran Orbital and VACCO he enjoyed his numerous coworkers that became friends. He was fortunate to have jobs that allowed him to travel to Florida, Washington DC and New Zealand for rocket launches and conferences. He was co-founder of a start-up company called Squid3 Space, which is developing materials for the aerospace industry and got to travel to Japan to make presentations on their behalf. He loved the year-round sunshine and outdoor activities in California and recently purchased his first home on his own in Long Beach where he was excited to be close to the beach and looked forward to renewing his love of surfing.

His home away from home was in Palm Springs, where he often spent long weekends and holidays with his Uncle Otto, Aunt Faye, Uncle Dick and Cord. He loved mountain biking, snowboarding and exploring southern Cal with Cord. His parents feel blessed that Dustin was able to join them the last few years as they explored the California coast, wine country, redwoods, and enjoyed many beaches, attractions and great meals together. His Mom, Dad and Tanner cherish memories of family vacations together to Hawaii, Washington DC, Disneyworld, and a month-long road trip through Washington, Montana and up the Alcan. They will fondly remember hours spent together around the summer campfire and backyard bonfires in the winter.

Dustin accomplished many wonderful things on this planet before being called home to Jesus Christ. It warms his family's heart to hear about all the positive connections he made around the country and the lives he touched in such positive ways. He was truly a shining star that was loved and will be missed by many.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Edward and Donna Holta; and Uncle Bjorn (Ike) Holta. He is survived by his parents, Eric and Kristi Holta; brother, Tanner Holta; grandparents, Larry and Kathie Karst; great uncle Dick Holta; aunts and uncles Jeremy Karst and Darcy Johnston, Rob and Susan Holta, Otto and Faye Holta, Pam and Greg Youngmun, Jason and Mady Holta, and Tamara Follows. He enjoyed numerous holidays and adventures with his cousins, Matt Holta (Nicole), Alex Youngmun (Hayley), Ryan Holta (Melissa), Nolan Youngmun (Ashley), Vanessa Hershberger (Henry), Kaylyn Holta, Mariah Eliason (Noah), Skyler Holta, Sef Follows; Tabitha Follows, Cord Bandow, Krissi Shern, and Emma Karst, along with many friends and extended family around the country. A celebration of life will be held in Alaska in mid-June.