Blanche L. Rieth

Blanche L. Rieth, 90, passed away Tuesday, January 28, 2025, in Serenity Place, St. Martin’s Village in Rapid City, S.D. Blanche was born February 17, 1934, in Seattle, Wash., to Marjorie Reardon and Fred E. Altman. She was raised by great grandparents, grandparents, and her mother Marjorie and stepfather Willard S. Partch. 

Blanche lived in, and attended schools in, many cities due to her stepfather being in the Navy, including, Seattle, Glenwood Springs, Colo., Boston, Mass., and Santa Barbara, Calif.  She received nurses training in Santa Barbara where she met the love of her life, Dr. Robert David Rieth. They were united in marriage on December 28, 1954. They raised eight children together for several years in San Francisco, Calif., fourteen years in Thermopolis, Wyoming., and finally, in their home from 1978 in Rapid City, S.D.

Blanche’s entire life was devoted to her husband and eight children, and later, twenty-two grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was a compassionate, giving person who always wanted to help others in need. Her hobbies included gardening, birdwatching and feeding her birds, music, playing tennis, swimming, ice-fishing, dancing, sewing, artwork, jewelry, cooking, playing games on her iPad, traveling to Deadwood to play the slots, and in later years, playing Bingo. She was thrilled to win little candy bars!

Blanche is survived by her sons, Jeffrey of Denver, Colo., Nathan (Kim) of Meridian, Idaho, Matthew (Ita Tripathy) of Rolla, Mo., and Damon of Rapid City, S.D .; daughters, Lorraine Rieth-Ptacek (Richard) of Piedmont, S.D., Stephanie Rieth-Laboray (Ron) of Staunton, Ill., and Jennifer Carsrud (Andrew) of Gillette, Wyo .; twenty-two grandchildren; six great grandchildren; her half-brother Willard S. Partch, Jr .; and many nieces and nephews.

Blanche was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Robert David Rieth; and her daughter, Emily Blanche Rieth. 

Visitation was on Wednesday, February 5 at Osheim-Schmidt Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be Thursday, February 6 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Black Hills, Piedmont, S.D.  Burial will follow at the Mount Calvary Cemetery.  A memorial has been established to Red Cloud Indian School, Pine Ridge, S.D. Please share your memories of Blanche at: http://www.OsheimSchmidt.com.