Norita Jane (Gruenwald) Rice, 85, of Redfield, SD and formerly of Frankfort, SD, died Thursday, November 17, 2022, at the Eastern Star Home in Redfield.
Visitation will be from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., with family present, on Sunday, November 27, at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield. A prayer service, rosary, and time of sharing will begin at 5:00 p.m.
Her Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 28, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Redfield with Reverend John Short officiating. Burial will follow at St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in Frankfort.
Norita’s Mass will be live-streamed to the funeral home’s website, below her obituary. Hyke Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements (www.hykefuneralhome.com).
Norita was born on October 4, 1937, to Jerome and Carolyn (Moeller) Gruenwald at home in Spink County, SD.
She attended St. Mary’s Catholic Boarding School in Zell, SD, graduating in 1951. She then attended Mt. Marty High School in Yankton, SD, and graduated in 1955. That summer she went to work at Wall Drug in Wall, SD. While working there, she met the love of her life, Richard "Dick" Rice, who was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. They were married in Wall on October 29, 1956. They lived in Rapid City, SD until Richard was discharged from the Air Force in December 1957. Their son Kevin was born in Rapid City. They moved to Cleveland, OH, Richard's hometown, where Richard John and Kellie were born.
Norita was a stay-at-home mom until she started working at St. Patrick's School in the library. In 1992, they moved back to Frankfort. They built a home there. Richard passed away in 1996.
Norita enjoyed sewing, gardening, and scrapbooking. She had proudly served on the St. Bernard Catholic Church Council.
Grateful for sharing her life are her children: Kevin Rice of Terre Haute, IN; Richard (Toni) Rice Jr. of Strongsville, OH; and Kellie (Kenneth) Blume of Redfield, SD; grandchildren: Alyssa Rice, Colin Blume, Madison Rice, Riley (Leslie) Blume, and Elden Blume; and great-grandchildren: Harvey and Howard Blume. Norita is also survived by her siblings: Wilfred (Patty) Gruenwald, Karen (Dennis) Lau, Janice (Bill) Winegar, Betty Moore, Mary Wurtz, Richard (Bette) Gruenwald, Jerry (Jacquie) Gruenwald, and Douglas Gruenwald; brother-in-law Roald Amundson; sister-in-law Janet Gruenwald; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Dick Rice; daughter-in-law Karen Rice; siblings: Michael Gruenwald, Margaret Owen, Jean Wallman, Irene Amundson, Francis Gruenwald, and Joseph Gruenwald; and brother-in-law Pete Wurtz.
