Memorial Obituary with picture Caroline Tike Grace Owens, 72, passed away at her home in Rapid City on Monday, April 12, 2010 after a long battle with cancer. On November 28, 1937, Caroline Grace, weighing in at two-and-a-half pounds, was born to Lyle and Zerita Cafferty. Her father Lyle announced that she was a little Tike, and the name stayed. Tike grew up in the Canyon Lake area and attended Cleghorn School. She was elected Homecoming Queen and graduated from Rapid City High School in 1955. She married Jerry Owens in 1957, and they had three children: Michael, Joel, and Laurie. The family made many moves and lived in Nebraska, Minnesota, Louisiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Mississippi, West Virginia, Iran, and Rapid City. No matter where the family lived, Tike made each house into a warm, welcome home in each location. Tike was employed by Kluthe and Lane Insurance, and she worked within the judicial system as a court reporter and in the Public Defenders office for many years. Tike worked hard and played hard, and brought energy and life to everything she did. In 2008 Tike married Alan Snorteland. They enjoyed many simple pleasures together, including work in their yard, trips to Deadwood, and card games with family and friends. Tike also liked to drop a line in a lake, and she enjoyed wallpapering and painting. Tike will be remembered for her big heart and her passion. Tike liked to have everyone think she was tough, but those around her knew her for her compassion and generosity, especially for those who were struggling or going through some difficulty. This was demonstrated in her everyday life: Anyone was welcome at Tikes kitchen table, she was the first to have a food basket ready at Christmas, and there are countless stories similar to the time she helped a neighboring family pay the rent while they were going through a hard time. And while Tike had a big heart, she showed others that hard work was the only path to take. Whining was not a word in Tikes vocabulary or even something she had the ability to do, and she was always the first to encourage others to get back up after a fall. To many, Tikes most endearing quality was her honest and forthright way of interacting with people. If there was a way to say something in the most direct manner and with the fewest words possible, Tike generally knew what that way was, and she was never one to be bashful about saying it. Tike will be remembered for living a principled and courageous life. She finished what she started, gave direct and honest answers to questions, made the best of even difficult situations, and expressed her gratitude and thanks for even the smallest occurrence. She is survived by her husband Alan Snorteland of Rapid City; sons Michael Owens of Wasilla, Alaska and Joel (Trina) Owens of Fairbanks, Alaska; daughter Laurie (Sherman) Payne of Cheyenne, Wyoming; grandchildren Kassie, K-ttie, and K-cie Owens of Wasilla, Alaska; step-daughters Deb Miller of Hettinger, North Dakota and Cindy (Mike) Bertsch of Warner; step-son Michael Fix of Fayetteville, North Carolina; sisters Juanita (Jim) Roth of Sturgis and Kaye (Norman) Allison of Rapid City; an uncle, Don (Sally) Cafferty of Payson, Arizona; nieces Susie Roth of Rapid City and Tiffany Goebel of Greenfield, Wisconsin; nephews Randy Roth and Dean Kinney of Sturgis, and Troy Cafferty and Todd Cafferty of Westminster, Colorado; brothers- and sisters-in-law Bob and Jan Snorteland of Aurora, Colorado; Don and Ida Marie Snorteland of Spearfish, Mary Lee and Doug Reikosky of Seattle, Sonja Jackson of Westminster, Colorado, Tom and Montie Owens of Medford, Oregon, and Dan and Deanna Owens of Keystone; a special life-long friend Kay Stevens of Tucson/Rapid City; and her cats Peaches and Cream. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother Dennis Cafferty; a grandson Kory Owens; her mother-in-law Eileen Snorteland; her mother- and father-in-law Dorothy and Jack Owens; and her step-son Charlie Snorteland. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 15 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will be held on Friday, April 16 at 9:00 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1012 Soo San Drive, with Reverend Bob Savot officiating. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. A memorial has been established to Rapid City Regional Hospital, Hospice House. To many, Tike was a confidante, a teacher, a mentor, a friend, and a mother. Her legacy of courage, compassion, and conviction will live on in each of us whom she loved and inspired. She would want us to line it out and press on!