Jeanne Irma (Blase) Grimm, 94, of Rapid City, died Friday, July 28, 2017 at West Hills Health Care.


She was born January 28, 1923, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Emil W. and Dorothy (Fielman) Blase. She grew up in St. Bernard, Ohio and graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1949 after interrupting her education in 1944 to enlist in the U. S. Navy WAVES, where she served as an Aerographer's Mate at the Norfolk Naval Air Station.

On September 10, 1948, she married Carl Albert Grimm, and taught nursery school after her graduation until their first of three sons was born in 1951. In 1952 the family moved to Rapid City, S.D., when Carl Albert (Al) was hired to teach Mathematics at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. They became charter members of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Jeanne served as an elder and in many other capacities, particularly with the Westminster Presbyterian Women. They enjoyed hiking and exploring in the Black Hills with their three boys, and after Al's retirement in 1988, for eighteen years enjoyed many camping trips with their little motorhome, particularly to Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, and the Oregon coast, and often combined with visits with their children and grandchildren.

Jeanne is survived by her husband, Al, Rapid City, her three sons; Eric C. (Jane Allard) Grimm, Jefferson, SD, David C. (Randi S.) Grimm, Sandy, Utah and Jeffrey H. (Christine Webb) Grimm Albany, Oregon, 6 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and her sister, Elaine Raffety, Poland, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her sister Ruth Gast.

Private family service will be held at a future date.

A memorial has been established to Storybook Island.