Marie Vallette, 102, passed away on Saturday, August 3, 2015, at Golden LivingCenter-Bella Vista. Marie Noziska was born on October 20, 1912 in a one room house on the family homestead in White River, Mellette County, South Dakota. She was the oldest of six children born to Emmanuel and Francis (Pistulka) Noziska. The family later moved to Colome, SD where Emmanuel and his brother Dominic started a general store. During the Great Depression, the family moved to California to seek survival. When she was sixteen the family moved back to Gregory South Dakota. She played on the basketball team and cheered "pep" squad. Graduating from Gregory high school in 1930 she then attended Aberdeen Teachers College where she earned her teaching certificate. Her first assignment was in a one room school house in Iona, SD. Marie married Hugh M Vallette in Burke, SD on June 12, 1935. In 1938 Hugh and Marie moved to Rapid City, SD where they raised seven children. Nothing was to be wasted, she was a model mother of the time. Food scraps went to compost, cloth to be sewn into other items, pants and shirts were repaired and passed down, fat was rendered for other meals and the leftovers were mixed with soot and given back to the birds she loved to watch from kitchen window. Coupons were stuffed into her purse and used for as many purchases as could be made. Running from store to store to get that best value. Newspapers were saved to record history and articles passed on to those families that were in celebration or mourning. Not a birthday went by without an angel food cake and a family gathering. Her specialty for fundraisers were lemon meringue pies which were already sold before they arrived. Tending the flowers and raising the vegetables in her gardens were her passion. Marie was fulfilled when she had her hands in the dirt nurturing her harvest. She would cut and arrange her flowers and deliver them to Blessed Sacrament Church so there were always flowers for a Mass or celebration. She belonged to the Garden Club, judged at the Pennington County fair, volunteer librarian at the old Cathedral High School, Den mother for Cub Scouts, assisted in Boy Scouts and participated in and directed the family activities. A deep love of her faith within the Catholic Church directed her entire life. Many a time "the boys" would come home late and find her waiting up for us asleep at the kitchen table with the bible next to her and a snack in the cupboard. There would be no bedtime until the boys were safely home. Daily mass, Adoration, The Twelve Apostles and the Catholic Daughters Court of St. Rita where she was a member for 70 years were all blended together to keep within Christ and serve others. She received the papal blessing from Pope John Paul the II when she was 90 years old. Marie is survived by her daughter Kaye Vallette Gelino of Portland, Oregon, Sons: Jim Vallette, White Clay, NE, Bob Vallette, Bill & Janet Vallette, Tom and Debbie Vallette, and Lynn and Joe Vallette all of Rapid City. She is survived by 19 Grandchildren and 11 Great Grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husband Hugh M Vallette II and son Hugh M Vallette III, great grandson Lenny Vallette, daughter-in-law Jayden Trone Vallette, and son-in-law James Gelino along with six brothers and sisters. Visitation will be Wednesday, August 12, from 5-6 pm, with a Christian wake service at 6 pm at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Christian funeral mass will be offered at 10 am on Thursday, August 13, at Blessed Sacrament Church with the Rev. Brian Lane presiding. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Rapid City. Any memorials can be made out to Catholic Daughters St Rita's Court.