Holman returned to Butte in 1992, after which he became a church trustee and its lay leader.

Although Trinity United closed its doors in July 2015, Holman remained a steadfast leader in the Methodist community, heading the Trinity Non-Denominational Chapel and Community Center at the site of the former church.

Just months before his death, he organized a vigil to honor the 49 victims of the Orlando, Florida, night-club shootings.

“It is a vigil to let people talk and express their feelings,” Holman said in a press release. “It is a time of reflection, a time of hope and a hope these things don’t happen again. We will light candles in memory of those we lost.”

Earlier in 2013, he had the honor of serving as the co-marshal of the Montana Pride Celebration Parade in Butte.

“I’m proud to be a gay man in Butte,” Holman told the Standard at the time. “This is a celebration of where we have come as gay Montanans and gay citizens, and where we want to go.”

As for Sullivan, she noted that Holman died on the eve of World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec. 1.

“He had a great sense of timing,” said Sullivan, noting that people will celebrate Holman’s life the same week they’ll be thinking about the cause that for him was a life’s passion.

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